Family launching fundraising drive in memory of teenager
THE MEMORY of a Doncaster teenager who died at just 18 is set to live on with her family setting up a charity and £5,000 fundraising drive in her memory.
Cerys King tragically took her own life last summer after a secret battle with depression – and her family now want to honour her with a charitable group set up in her name.
The group – Cerys King’s Wish – has launched an initial campaign to raise £5,000 and wants the cash to be used to help fund a variety of projects in Doncaster including helping the homeless, disadvantaged children and women fleeing domestic violence.
Mother Amanda King said: “Cerys would do anything to help anyone and we want that spirit to live on. We want to help as many people as we can and keep her name alive.”
The group has set up a Go-FundMe page with the aim of drawing in cash from far and wide which can be distributed to those in need.
Cerys’s sister Sarah said that following the tragedy last summer, the family had thrown themselves into helping others and the idea had grown from them.
She said: “We were doing house clearances and things to keep busy,” she said, “and in doing that, we were collecting a lot of stuff that we could donate to others.”
The family have already donated items to groups such as Changing Lives and Doncaster Women’s Aid and various homeless groups.
Sarah added: “Cerys was always there for others. She was always helping somebody else, regardless of how she felt.
“We want to become a charity that does what it can to help others and also help other charities.”
Mrs King said: “Cerys was a warm, bubbly young girl – she would do anything for anyone she would give you the shoes off her feet if you needed them. We are wanting to help people who are suffering from mental health, homeless issues, domestic violence – these issues I know will be close to a lot of people’s hearts and we all know someone suffering from one of these issues.”