Cash appeal for loch tragedy tots’ funeral reaches £15K
A CROWDFUNDING appeal to help with funeral costs for two toddlers who died in a loch tragedy has closed after raising £14,770 in five days.
Leia McCorrisken, three, and her bother Seth, two, died in a tragic accident on July 6, when the family car left the A816, north of Kilmelford village, in Argyll.
Their mother, Hazel, 36, managed to escape from the vehicle, which ended up submerged in 40ft of water in Loch Nan Druimean.
She was taken to Oban, Lorn and Islands Hospital then released back home to the isle of Luing, where the children’s father, Neil McCorrisken, runs his own business.
Sarah Stopford, who started the Justgiving page, announced on the site earlier this week that it was time to close the appeal.
She posted the following message online, to the 800 donors who helped raised the cash: “Thankyou to everyone for the kindness shown. Hazel and Neil are so grateful for the love and support shown to the family.
“The time has now come to shut the page. The money raised is amazing and this page has restored my faith in humanity.
“All my love to each and every person who donated and shared the page. Rest in peace little ones.”
Ms Stopford had initially set a goal of raising £500, but when that figure was achieved within half an hour the target was raised to £15,000.
People from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, including many who did not know the family, lined up to donate and to leave messages of love and support.
Claire, one of the donors, commented: “No parent should have to pay for their children’s funeral so this is at least a way to make the worry a little less.
“I so want them to have breathing space from money ties and this really helps.”