Well-wishers help pay Jade's funeral bill

Healthcare student Jade Park used her life savings to pay for the funeral of her mum, Kym Jones, who died suddenly from a heart attack last month at the age of 44.

The funeral, which took place at Lytham Crematorium on February 27, cost £2,294, but Jade was only able to pay off £1,244. As a result, Kym’s ashes remained in the care of funeral directors D. Hollowell and Sons.

Now Jade will be able to have her mum home in time for Mother’s Day after generous people across the Fylde coast donated the full remaining £1,050 - and more - to her online fund-raiser.

She said: “I’m very grateful to everyone who has donated. I would like to say a great big thank you to everyone who has pulled together to share the story.

“It means a lot to me that I will have her back for Mother’s Day.”

Jade, who lives on Ventnor Road, raised £1,370 in just 24 hours after she appealed for help in The Gazette on Saturday. As of today, her fundraiser stands at £2,125.

As a full-time student, Jade was not able to claim financial help from the government’s funeral payment scheme, as the offer is only open to people on a low income who are receiving certain benefits.

She said: “I’m very pleased and I didn’t think we would get half as much as we did.”

The money raised means that Jade, who hopes to become a midwife after completing her degree at UCLAN, will not be forced to pay the bill using her student loan, which is intended to support her studies.

She said: “I have always wanted to be a midwife because it’s such a rewarding job.”