A large anonymous donation has given a Bridlington family a huge boost in their efforts to try to turn their heartache into something positive.
Chelsea Blue Mooney died in April this year – aged just 17 – after suffering mental health problems and her family was determined to make sure her ‘happy places’ would gain reward from their ‘real life super hero’.
Her dad, Steve Blackford, is co-ordinating a series of events to raise money in Chelsea Blue’s memory, with proceeds going to organisations that she loved in her home town.
He set up a Just Giving page with a target of £15,000, ahead of a series of family fundraising events. That has already passed the £12,500 mark.
Bridlington Gymnastics Club, Performing Arts at Bridlington School and New Pasture Lane School will all benefit and Steve said: “The fundraising is going brilliantly. Someone has been very generous indeed and given a substantial amount. We are so grateful.”
Steve, his daughter Stevie, 16, and sister Elizabeth, 17, are doing a skydive from Grindale on November 7 and at a later date ,the trio will be joined by Steve’s partner Kady Rennison to conquer the 26 miles of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
Steve is then planning to walk the national three peaks later in November – Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon – with a separate family ascent of Scafell, England’s highest peak in December.
“Weather permitting that will involve all of us – me, Stevie and Elizabeth plus Chelsea’s other sisters Darcy, Madison and four-year-old Scarlet, as well as half-sister Katie and Chelsea’s cousin Leon.
“After that, we are looking at possibly conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in April, me, Stevie and possibly Kady.”
Steve works on oil rig supply ships from Great Yarmouth, month-on month-off, and said: “I was away at sea when I was told that Chelsea Blue had tried to take her own life. She died two days later.”
Chelsea’s grandad, Tony Mooney, has already raised £2,000 for the Cygnet Hospital in Sheffield, where she died, and her mum Eileen said: “They have used it to support young children for their everyday needs as well as planting in the sensory garden.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.”
The incredible efforts are all aimed at raising the awareness of mental health and child suicide and Steve said: “We are trying to turn heartache into something positive.
“Chelsea had been suffering since early teens with anorexia and problems with her mental health, which resulted in her being sectioned under the mental health act and she spent the next three years struggling.
“She was an inspiring gymnast, singer and horse rider and loved to sing. She helped everyone in all situations.
“So, on her unfortunate death, we decided that Chelsea would be happy to put her organs up for donation as they would be able to help people with a life that she didn’t want.
“She successfully donated her heart, kidneys and liver and four families have all been helped with the help of our baby girl. She is our real life super hero! Even in her darkest of days.
“Now we want to raise as much money as we can for her local clubs to help kids stay creative.
“If our story can save one family from going through what we have, we have achieved something good.
“We will keep the fundraising going until at least Christmas.
“We want to help the places that meant so much to Chelsea, rather than funds going to huge corporate charities, so we can see exactly what a difference the money makes.”
To make a donation, visit thewww.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chelseablue page.
