Music festival in memory of Kirstie on 21st birthday helps charities
A group of former Shropshire college pupils have raised more than £5,000 in memory of a friend to mark what would have been her 21st birthday.
Kirstie Foster, from Osbaston, near Oswestry, was just 15 when she was murdered along with her mother Jill by her father, Christopher Foster in 2008.
To celebrate their friend's life, several of those who were at school with her at Ellesmere College held a music festival to coincide with her 21st birthday.
This week, in Kirstie's memory, 22-year-old twins, Melissa and Zoe Evans, from Rowton near Shrewsbury, presented a cheque for £3,078 to Hope House children's hospice. It followed the presentation of £2,000 to the Dogs for the Disabled Charity at a meeting of Alberbury Young Farmers' Club, which helped to organise the festival.
Melissa, secretary of the club, said friends from the college had always planned to mark Kirstie's 21st birthday and decided to hold a music festival.
"It was a night to remember happy times with Kirstie. The event was very special and I'd like to thank everyone involved for all their help in making it such a great success. We are so grateful to Alberbury Young Farmers, the members helped so much on the night," she said.
The money presented to Dogs for the Disabled will be used to sponsor two puppies.
Hope House fundraising manager Vanessa Thomas said the charity was touched that Melissa and her friends and family had donated so much money in Kirstie's memory.
"The £3,000 will pay for a child to stay for a whole week of around the clock holistic respite care at Hope House and for all the doctors, nurses, carers, physiotherapists and other care staff that enable their visit to be enjoyable. We can't thank Melissa enough," she said.
Christopher Foster, 50, who had £4 million debts, shot Jill and Kirstie as well as the family pets before setting the family home on fire. He then killed himself.
