The outpouring of support following the death of keen fundraiser, 30 year old Claire Squires, was overwhelming and resulted in an unprecedented amount of money being donated to Samaritans in her name.
Claire’s death left her family and friends devastated and both Samaritans and the general public in shock. Claire had been running for Samaritans as her mum, Cilla, has been a volunteer for the last 24 years, latterly with the Banbury branch. This was not her first challenge, earlier this year she had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and had completed the London marathon in 2010.
The support from the public following Claire’s death was in short, amazing and humbling, and gave her family great support during those difficult days, weeks and months that followed. But with the remarkable strength of her family, Claire’s amazing legacy has begun to take shape …
We have been completely overwhelmed by the support we have received over the past few months since we lost Claire. The money donated in Claire’s memory leaves us lost for words and it has been a great comfort to know that Claire touched so many people.
She would have been excited to know that so much money had been raised, and we have worked so hard to make sure that it is being used the way Claire would have wanted.
Thank you to everyone who donated, no amount of money can ever bring Claire back but we can hopefully make a real difference and leave a lasting legacy for my beautiful daughter.
Cilla Squires, Claire’s mum
Claire’s family have set up a charity in her memory, The Squires Effect, to carry on her passion for fundraising.
