in loving memory of casey
Casey Kierney, 13, who died after she was stabbed near Elmfield Park
A CHARITY is set to be established to tackle knife crime in memory of Casey-Lyanne Kearney, who was stabbed outside a Doncaster park.
Target Knife Crime UK has been set up in memory of the McAuley Catholic High School pupil, with the aim of supporting families affected by knife crime and to run education programmes on the dangers of carrying a blade.
As part of the national charity, based in Doncaster, a trust fund will also be set up honouring the popular 13-year-old.
Lee Maguire has been the driving force behind the charity, having become involved because a friend’s daughter was at school with Casey.
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Turn In the days following her death Mr Maguire organised a candle light vigil outside Elmfield Park, attended by hundreds of people.
He said: “Casey’s death upset people all over the place - when I was organising the vigil I had my phone ringing off the hook with people wanting to get involved.
“It is really important to get the knife crime message out there. We are going to be involved with the four-year-old boy who was stabbed in Mansfield this week.”
The aim is for Target Knife Crime to go into schools to teach youngsters about the danger of knives. The Casey-Lyanne Kearney Trust will be launched as part of the charity to offer financial support to families whose loved ones have been a victim of knife crime.
The charity will be officially launched at The Dome on Saturday, July 7, with a concert, where it is hoped Casey’s relatives will be guests of honour.
Organisers are currently in the process of booking performers, and are hoping to attract big name stars, as well as bands with a link to Casey, including her maths teacher’s group.
Mr Maguire, 37, of Dunscroft, added: “We are hoping to get some big name acts involved, and HMV’s head office have already given us a prize worth £600.”
Those behind the trust are also in talks to create wristbands with an anti-knife crime message.
Casey was stabbed in a random attack outside Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe on February 14 this year.
She had just got off a bus from her home village of Rossington to meet a friend in the half-term holidays when she was knifed in the stomach.
She staggered into the park and called police herself telling operators she had been stabbed. Casey died several hours later in Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Her death sent shock waves around the world, with more than 17,500 signing up to pay tribute online.
The charity has already gathered a lot of support on social media, with them getting 450 people following their cause on Twitter and 460 fans on Facebook.
Fundraisers also gave more than £7,300 to Casey’s family to help cover her funeral expenses after doing collections and sponsored walks.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mr Maguire on 07412 925955 or email targetknifecrime@live.com
•Hannah Bonser, 26, of Cusworth House, St James’ Street, Balby Bridge, is on remand after she was charged with Casey’s murder and two counts of possessing a bladed article.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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