Shane Walsh tragedy: Appeal for tragic Shrewsbury dad's family passes £7,700
An appeal to raise £15,000 for the family of tragic Shrewsbury father Sane Walsh has passed the halfway mark - just four days after it was launched.
Kirsty Walsh and her children, three-year-old Corey and 11-month-Adalynn, have been left devastated at the death of their husband and father last week.
Shane's stepfather Mick Hills came up with the idea of the appeal last week, just two days after it was confirmed that a body found in the River Severn in Shrewsbury was that of the missing 29-year-old.
Since the crowdfunding site went live, almost £8,000 has been raised.
Shane, from Harlescott, was the main breadwinner for the family and worked as landscaper. His wife Kirsty worked as a nursery nurse prior to giving up work to look after the couple’s children.
But Shane had no life insurance or savings and now Kirsty has been left with the nightmare situation of facing up to how to support the family.
Mr Hills said: "The support we have received from family and friends and also from people we have never met but who have read about or heard of what happened to Shane has been overwhelming.
"In the days that Shane was missing, people were coming up to me and asking what could they do to help. When we heard he had been found they said they wanted to do something to help Kirsty and the children. That is why we came up with the idea of the crowdfunding site.
"The donations we have received have given a lot of comfort to the family. We are in a terrible situation but the support has been wonderful.
"Kirsty has been very strong through this, she is an incredible lady. She is being strong for the children but when she is on her own she is heartbroken. We are all doing what we can for her. The family is rallying around her.
"She and Shane were together for seven years and had two beautiful children. It is going to be so hard and difficult for her in the months to come. This money will help to make her a little more comfortable while she deals with this terrible situation."
Mr Hills said they would look at putting some of the money into a trust for Shane's children.
He said: "All money raised will go to help Kirsty, Corey and Adalynn stay on their feet. It is hoped if we raise enough money, some can be put into a trust for the children so they can remember how much their daddy meant to people and bring some meaning to this tragic loss.”
Shane went missing in the early hours of the morning after a night out with friends in Shrewsbury. His body was recovered by divers last Wednesday from a stretch of water close to Frankwell Quay.
To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mick-hills
