GoFundMe page for 11-year-old girl who lost family in tragic car crash reaches £400,000 as carer shares update
A fundraiser set up for an 11-year-old girl who tragically lost her family in what police described as a 'truly horrendous collision' has received more than £400,000 in donations.
Poppie Morgan-Roller was orphaned after her parents Shane Roller and Shannen Morgan were killed in a horror car crash on the A61 near Wakefield, UK, on 21 July, along with her two sisters, Lillie, four, and Rubie, nine.
The family were heading out for a walk when their Ford Focus collided with a motorcycle ridden by Christopher Barton, 56 and his wife Janine, 48, who were also fatally injured.
Poppie, meanwhile, was playing at the home of family friend Paul Hepple, 37, after deciding she didn't want to join them on the outing and was about to have a Sunday dinner when the tragic news came through over a phone call.
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Paul later set up a GoFundMe for the school girl to raise funds to help with her 'well-being, including her living expenses, education, and any counselling she may need' in wake of the tragedy.
The software developer vowed to stand by Poppie and ensure she has a 'stable, loving environment where she can heal and grow'.
Now, 12 weeks on from that fateful day, Paul has issued an update while also thanking people for their generosity after an 'astonishing' amount of money was raised for her.
The GoFundMe page had quickly surpassed it's £3,000 goal within a matter of days, but it has now been closed after reaching an incredible £408,207.
Paul praised the community for their kindness, saying those close to the Morgan-Roller family had been overwhelmed by the 'outpouring of love and support' Poppie has received.
He wrote: "There have been 22.5 thousand donations from people all over the world. Donations are now closed, as the amount raised is far beyond what anyone could have expected. It’s truly remarkable."
'Not a single penny' has been touched so far, Paul said, but the staggering amount of cash for Poppie's future is set to be placed into a trust fund and her aunt Faye has been added as a beneficiary to handle the transfer.
Discussing Poppie's progress, he said: "Poppie is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
"Poppie and her Aunt, Faye, have also received invaluable support from Brake, the road safety charity, who have been instrumental in helping them manage the legal side of things and providing guidance."
He added: "Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued kindness, patience, and support. Your generosity has not only secured Poppie’s future but has also brought light during a very dark time."
The police investigation into the deadly crash remains ongoing.
As a result, an inquest into the tragedy has been postponed to a future date which is still yet to be determined.
Olivia Burke