Megan’s love of music remembered through launch of charity’s fund
FORMER SUNDERLAND STUDENT’S PARENTS AMONG CROWD AS COMMUNITY GATHERS TO SUPPORT NEW HELP ORGANISATION
A day of live music was held as a town gathered to launch a charity set up in memory of a teenager who died at a festival.
Former St Anthony’s Catholic Girls’ Academy student Megan Bell, from Seaham, died last July at T in the Park in Scotland.
Megan’s Rainbow Support Trust has been set up to offer counselling to families who lose a child and to help them meet the unexpected cost of a funeral.
Artists performed on Terrace Green on Saturday to raise fund for the charity.
The event was organised by family friends Laura Ward, 29, and Gillian Graham, 37, who will run the section of the charity which will help offer financial support to families.
Megan’s dad Chris Bell, 45, and mum Lisa Dickinson, 42, who are also parents to Josh, 13, Jenny, nine, and Maddy, 11, were among those watching the show.
Lisa said: “This is to make sure her name keeps going.
“She would have absolutely loved this.
“Some of her friends are here, ones she’s known from primary school, have come down to support it.
“It’s comforting, definitely, and I love to see them because they make me think of Megan.”
Chris added: “This is to kickstart the charity and make people aware of what it’s about and that we’re here.
“It’ll be up and running as soon as possible.
“Her true friends have always been there for us.
“This is the first year of Music for Megan, but in the long term, we want to hold this every year and it will get bigger and better.
“Laura and Gillian have
done an amazing job organising this, we can’t thank them enough.
“It’s overwhelming the response, the community has really come together and we want to thank the people of Seaham as well.”
The Bunker singing group, from Sunderland, was the first to take to the stage, followed by The Social Room, Mia Paris, Thieves of Liberty, Beyonce tribute The Irreplaceable, Krisis North East and a DJ set from Chris Bungoni.
The event was sponsored by Downeys fish and chip shop in North Terrace, Food R Us, MR Serices, a property, maintenance and roofing firm, and Steadfast Security. Seaham Town Council also donated the use of a stage, while craft stalls were also set up.