Mum to hold event in memory of daughter (From Watford Observer)

Mother of Ellie Sheppard to hold fundraising event to mark 18th birthday

11:29am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News

A MUM whose daughter died from an undetected heart condition is holding a fundraising event to mark what would have been her 18th birthday.

Money raised from the family fancy dress party and raffle at Northwood Football Club on Friday, November 23, will go to the British Heart Foundation.

Ellie Sheppard, a pupil at Bromet Primary School, died on January 2 2006 - just a few weeks after her 11th birthday.

Unbeknown to her family, she had Brugada syndrome, a genetic disease which can result in a sudden and fatal arrhythmia in the heart in apparently healthy people.

Her mother, 43-year-old Donna Thornton, from Oxhey, said: "Eleanor would have been 18 this year. To celebrate her life and to try to raise awareness of Brugada syndrome - as well as money for the British Heart Foundation - her friends and I are putting on a charity 18th birthday party.

"Everyone has been very generous with raffle prizes and with their time in helping us to organise this event. Top DJ Errol Johnson is playing for free and Northwood Football Club is letting us use its premises for free as well. However, we are still looking for a local band prepared to help out by playing a set."

Donna, who has two other daughters and a son, added: "We miss Ellie terribly and it’s been a struggle to carry on. No parent should have to bury their child. But we wanted to do something very positive for her and we hope plenty of people will help us celebrate her life and raise money for the British Heart Foundation."

The party runs from 7pm to midnight. Fancy dress is optional but there are prizes for the best adult and best child costumes. Tickets cost £3 (adult or child). If you can’t make it to the party, you can still win one of three amazing hampers stuffed full of prizes including including tickets for a Watford FC game, free leisure centre membership, and Vue cinema tickets. Raffle tickets cost £2 each.

Please email wendymoir@fsmail.net with the number of party and/or raffle tickets you would like to reserve, and for more information about the event. Tickets can be collected on the door or sent in the post.