Parents of tragic Lacey, who died suddenly on a summer camping trip, aim to start a charity for other bereaved families

Jodie and Ray want to make sure any family who finds themselves in the same position as them, has somewhere to turn to

Published 17th Sep 2018

A bereaved couple from Stalybridge, who lost their little girl only a month ago, say they are pouring all their heartbreak into trying to set up a charity to help other parents in the same situation.

Lacey Warburton had been camping with her family near to Halifax when she complained she was feeling unwell.

She collapsed in her fathers arms and within 90 minutes she had passed away.

Mum and Dad, Joe and Ray, told Hits Radio she had been laughing and joking all day and they initially thought she was fooling around when she collapsed.

"She was a loving, caring girl, always running around and joking about. She had a heart of gold.

"It's Lacey that always wanted to go camping. Always got her own way, didn't she? A last minute booking so we went out for a few days.

"She shouted from the tent that she didn't feel well and just collapsed on the floor. It's only a quiet campsite so we got one of the workers who knew CPR. One of the campers was a qualified first aider. Everyone just rallied around.

"It felt like an eternity but the ambulance, and the air ambulance came, and apparently they had the best of the best there but eventually that's when decisions were made that there was no coming back from it."

Her family didn't hold a funeral for her, instead they put on 'Lacey's Day' - a celebration of her life. They released butterflies - to honour the fact she was known as their 'little butterfly'.

Now, the family have launched 'Love of Lacey', in honour of their little girl. They are trying to raise ÂŁ30,000 to set up their own charity that would provide respite and care for families who lose a child:

"We want the charity that's not had the love and support where we've had. We're hoping to get to the point where people have got somewhere to escape to, we've said it a few times and if you've not got that support network, you need somewhere to escape to.

"There's been a few times I've sat here and thought the walls are closing in on me and all I've wanted to do is get out. So if we can get to the point where people can go on to a caravan in the woods, or a log cabin and just get away, that would be nice."

To find out more about Love of Lacey, visit this site

More details of the crowdfunding campaign can be found here