EXCLUSIVE: Jason Bennett 'determined' to keep his children's fundraising legacy going

We've been speaking to Jason - in a radio exclusive - about what he's got planned later this month

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 6th Jun 2023

The dad of two children murdered in Killamarsh tells us he's 'determined to keep their memory alive' - as he brings people together for a charity event in their names.

Lacey and John Bennet, their pregnant mum Terri & Lacey's friend Connie - were killed by 32-year-old Damien Bendall in September 2021.

Bendall was sentenced to five whole life orders last year.

John & Lacey Bennett

For the last seven weeks, Jason's family & friends have been playing football on the Woodhouse Mill Recreation Ground in Sheffield ahead of an exciting fixture they've got in the pipeline.

A team Jason's put together will take on a Sheffield Wednesday legends side - with all the cash set to be given to the Youth Cancer Trust.

Shortly before his children were murdered - they were selling sweets for the charity - Jason admits that's his inspiration:

"It just goes to show what type of kids they were.

"They set their sweet stall up and spent their own pocket money on buying sweets to sell to other people.

"John, Lacey and their friend Connie were all raising this money for the Youth Cancer Trust.

"That's what those children did on their last day alive.

"The last video call I had with my children was when they showed me what they were doing, and I felt so proud of them.

"This is why I'm putting on this charity game, because none of the children got to donate that money.

"It's so difficult; there's been a lot of dark days where I just don't want to leave the house.

"This is what I want to show people; no matter how hard your day can be, I promise you there can be a better day.

"I'm living proof of this, I'm here now and I questioned whether I would be at times, but I'm still here.

"I carry my children with me every single day.

"I can't believe that they've gone, but I'm going to carry their love on through what I do moving forwards.

"Lacey was just like me; she just wanted to have fun and wind people up, but she was so loving.

"John had this fiery personality but he had a heart of gold and deep down was such a caring boy.

The event's on the 24th of June at the Hillsborough Jubilee Sports & Social club in Sheffield.

You can see more about it on the link below:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/adadforeverutdvslegendsfc?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=adadforeverutdvslegendsfc&utm_campaign=pfp-whatsapp&utm_term=ba229a7a83b24dcc935b0bc08745b237

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