Family raises £18,400 in memory of teenager
Reporter: MARINA BERRY
Date published: 24 August 2011
THE family of a teenager killed in a car crash have raised an incredible £18,400 in his memory.
The Cooney family threw themselves into fundraising to help them cope with the tragic death of Billy Cooney, who died last year, aged 19.
Their efforts have seen them present the biggest single donation by one family to the Royal Oldham Hospital.
Billy’s heartbroken sister, Vanessa, organised a charity day to help her make sense of the tragedy which robbed her of her beloved brother — and thousands turned out to support the family at the event at Lord Lane football pitches, Failsworth, last month.
Together with a handful of other fundraising events held in Billy’s memory, it raised the huge amount which Vanessa and her parents, Jayne and Mark Cooney, and her partner, Samuel Kennard, presented to the hospital.
Billy suffered severe head injuries when the Vauxhall Corsa he was driving crashed into railings at the Elk Mill roundabout slip road, in September last year.
Firefighters freed the former Oldham College student from the wreckage, but he died a short time later at the Royal Oldham Hospital.
Vanessa (25) wanted to help other patients and the money will pay for equipment for the resuscitation department in accident and emergency at the hospital.
She said: “Billy was just the best. He was gone way too soon, it was unexpected and he is missed so much.
“I wanted to try to help everyone else who goes to the hospital, the way they tried to help Billy.”
Billy’s family and friends all pulled together to help Vanessa raise the money, which includes the proceeds of car boot sales by Billy’s grandparents, Dot and Geoff Jones, the Great Manchester Run, a non-uniform day at South Failsworth Primary School, a £50 donation from Royton and Crompton School, bag packing at Tesco, Failsworth, and the sale of football cards.
The charity day hosted a football match, live music, stalls and rides, and visits from sporting and TV stars including January Woodhead and John Connolly of “X-Factor” fame, and Bez from the band Happy Mondays.
Vanessa, who started organising the event just after Christmas, said: “Thousands of people were there, a lot more than I expected.”
She has vowed to continue fundraising, saying: “It keeps me going, it makes me feel closer to Billy and I know he would have been pleased and proud of what we are doing.”
“Keeping fundraising means I have to get up in the mornings because I have to plan things. If I didn’t have anything to keep my mind busy I don’t know where I would be.”
Vanessa is planning to hold an annual charity event, Billy’s Day, on the Lord Lane football pitches at a weekend nearest to her brother’s July 5 birthday.
Jan Bolton, fundraising manager for the Pennine Acute Trust, said: “We have worked alongside Vanessa for several months and are delighted with the result of her fundraising.
“She has worked tirelessly to bring a successful family fun day in Billy’s memory to the people of OIdham.
“This is the biggest single donation from any family and will make a huge difference to the accident and emergency department at the Royal Oldham Hospital.”
