Appeal for bikers to help escort Layton on his final journey
FAMILY ASKS FOR CONVOY AT FUNERAL OF BIKE-MAD YOUNGSTER
A PROCESSION of motorbikes is set to escort tragic youngster Layton Darwood on his final journey
The five-year-old died in hospital after he was involved in a collision with a van near his Newcastle home last month.
And today as they prepare to say a heartbreaking last goodbye at his funeral on Friday, Layton’s family are planning a very special sendoff .
oved ones of the motorbikemad lad are asking local bikers to help escort him to the city’s West Road Crematorium.
A post on Facebook giving details of the funeral says: “Layton, aged five, had two massive loves in his life; Spiderman, and motorbikes.
“He was fatally injured after being
involved in a collision with a transit van near his home and the family would like as many motorbikes as possible to accompany him on his final journey. “
Layton died in hospital on August 24 after being involved in a collision with a white Ford Transit van, on Willow Avenue in Fenham.
Since the tragedy, around £15,000 has been raised to help his parents, Stephany Richardson and Stephen Darwood, pay for his funeral.
Maxine Forster, a close friend of Layton’s mum, set up ‘Layton’s Fund’, which raised more than £5,000 through Facebook raffles.
While a separate drive on the online fundraising page JustGiving has collected just under £10,000.
Maxine, 26, said: “I’m absolutely dreading the funeral, it’s going to be the worst.”
Anyone wishing to be part of the motorcycle escort to the crematorium is asked to join at the junction of Queensway and Kingsway, in Fenham, no later than 2.45pm on Friday.
The cortege will leave at 3pm and Layton’s funeral service will begin at 3.15pm.
Organisers of the escort have asked those planning to take part to visit their Facebook page and click ‘Going’ so they can estimate space needed for parking.
A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the collision, which happened at around 4.50pm.
He has since been released under investigation.