Tributes to Edie three years after tot’s death

Social media gathering to remember bubbly two-year-old

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People will dress in Converse trainers and floral prints and flood social media with photographs today in memory of a Fife tot who died three years ago.

Edie Murphy loved to wear her favourite trainers and flowery clothes before her life was suddenly cut short by illness on October 16 2015.

At the two-year-old’s funeral in Kirkcaldy, mourners dressed in her favourite attire and her parents Tom and Cheryl have asked people to do the same again, three years on.

They have encouraged people to share photographs of themselves doing so on social media using the tag #flyhighedie which went viral shortly after Edie’s death from a rare form of epilepsy.

The Fly High Edie campaign in 2015 led to a plane being named after the tragic toddler when 130,000 people voted for her to win a competition run by holiday firm Thomsons, now TUI.

CHERYL MURPHY

Cheryl said: “October 16 is a really sad time for us as a family but we try to celebrate Edie’s life, like we always do, and remember happier times.

“We ask our family, friends and those who know Edie’s story to join us in remembering her by wearing Converse, flowers or yellow as those were Edie’s favourite things.

“It’s a great comfort to know that three years on Edie is still in the hearts and minds of so many people.”

Cheryl and Tom, who now live in Halifax with three-year-old daughter Annie, have created a Facebook page Remembering Edie Chops 2018, where they hope many will share their tributes to their beloved Edie Chops, as they nicknamed her.

They held a party in memory of Edie on Sunday, raising money for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

Last month they learned that almost £26,000 had been collected for the charity under the Fly High Edie banner in their daughter’s name.

They, friends, family and supporters have raised funds since shortly after Edie’s death, through escapades from running to skydiving.

Cheryl said: “So many wonderful things have been done and it’s a great comfort to know that all money raised goes towards supporting children and their families in hospital.”

It’s a great comfort to know that three years on Edie is still in the hearts and minds of so many people.

Edie Murphy, aged two, with her parents Tom and Cheryl and four-month-old sister Annie.