More than 100 walk to raise cash for Derry Hill crash memorial

They braved the wind and rain to step out on a ten mile hike to raise the funds for a garden of reflection.

Family and friends tend the makeshift shrine in the town’s Pocket Park each day, with people still leaving fresh flowers for the boys who lost their lives in the accident last August.

The council has given the go ahead for a permanent garden of remembrance in Castlefields Park.

Three of the four boys' mothers led the walk from the Pocket Park to Bowood and back.

They say they are overwhelmed and delighted with the response to the walk in which 109 people took part.

"We are so very grateful to everyone who undertook the walk and also to all those who sponsored those walking.

"Tessa, Kerry and I will continue to organise and/or participate in events in the names of our boys Mattie, Corey and Ryan," said Matthew's mum, Amanda.

"Once we have enough funds for the Garden of Reflection, we plan to donate funds to other local causes/charities in the names of the boys as we want to give back to the community that has given us so much support.

"We want the names of our boys to live on, and to make a difference to others in their memory.

"We are going to be holding a celebration of life event for our three boys in August at Wellington Barn. We were restricted on their funeral arrangements due to covid restrictions so this will be bringing together all the families and friends of the boys to celebrate their lives."

They have set up a just giving fund raising page called the Official Derry Hill crash page after a fake page was set up just after the accident.

So far it has raised more than £8.5k.