Charity walk pays tribute to a daughter killed in her teens in a car crash

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Transcript

00:00Okay, so we're here at the Reakin today. I'm with Leanne Vaughan, mum of Lily May.

00:06We're here because Leanne is doing a challenge, 20 walks of the Reakin, and today is the final one.

00:13It's all in memory of her daughter, Lily May.

00:16Leanne, do you want to tell us a bit about the challenge and your story?

00:20Yeah, so sadly, Lily May was tragically killed on the 4th of February, 2023, due to a dangerous driver.

00:31She was a passenger in the car, and the last birthday we celebrated physically together was the 17th birthday.

00:41So it's now, today would be the day of Lily May's 20th heavenly birthday, and birthdays were always a big thing for Lily May.

00:50And the thing with grief is, you've got all this love, but it hasn't got anywhere to go.

00:56So by doing this challenge, I've been able to channel all my love for Lily May into doing something positive,

01:03because each walk that I've done, I've done 20, well, it'll be my 20th today.

01:10I've been raising money for Road Peace, and Road Peace were there for me from the moment I lost Lily May, really.

01:19So that was important to me.

01:22And I think on some of these walks, I think you've done some, just you and Sadie the dog, Lily May's beloved dog,

01:31and some with different members of the family and friends of Lily May as well.

01:35So you've almost been able to get different stories and memories of her.

01:40Yeah, so Lily May was a real outdoors girl, so that was why the walk in the Reekin came about.

01:50And Lily May's favourite day was just being with her friends and family on a walk.

01:56And I was thinking today about birthdays, and it was never about the present.

02:01It was always about the experience, being with people that you love.

02:04So, yeah, what's been lovely is on each of the walks, someone different's joined me.

02:11Like the very first one, my best friend, who was like Lily May's fairy godmother, came with me.

02:16That was back in January.

02:19And then cousins have been walking with me, friends of Lily May.

02:24I'm really touched today because Lily May's primary school headmaster is walking today.

02:30And what's been lovely is, even though Lily May's not physically here,

02:36her memory's being kept alive because everyone's talking about her.

02:41I'm here with Lewis, Lily May's cousin, and he's got a very special tribute.

02:50So, you've got the tattoo there on your arm.

02:53What will May mean to you?

02:55Um, she meant everything to me, to be fair.

02:59She was like more of a sister than she was a cousin for me because we live near each other.

03:03So, we were kind of grown up together.

03:04So, it was like, um, we were always together, always a family gathering together.

03:10We went all on to her together.

03:11So, it was like heartbreak when we lost her.

03:14And what do you think of the turnout here today?

03:18It just goes to show that, you know, how loved and how special she was to people.

03:22Yeah, I think the people who turn up, uh, you meant a lot to look.

03:27She was like, everyone loved that.

03:29Everyone loved what she stood for.

03:31She was like, obsessive dogs, animals, and I think everyone should just be a part of that.

03:36Oh, no, I'm here.