Charity art show in memory of Karen Puddifoot (From Watford Observer)

Charity art show in Wimbledon in memory of Northwood resident Karen Puddifoot

9:29am Wednesday 20th October 2010 in News By Michael Pickard

Friends of Karen Puddifoot, who died while enjoying a round-the-world trip, will host an art exhibition to raise money for the British Lung Foundation.

Karen, 27, and Tim Roney, 21, were cycling across the globe to raise money for the charity when a boat they were on capsized amid strong winds in Halong Bay, off the coast of Vietnam, in September last year.

Karen's brother Chris, 22, who had also taken part in the cycling trip, died in a car crash two months later.

Now Geraldine O'Reilly, who like Karen is a former student at Wimbledon College of Art, is organising an exhibition to finish the fundraising Karen and Chris, from Northwood, and Tim, from Sarratt, could not complete.

Geraldine and Karen once worked together as prop makers on a Sony Bravia advertising campaign featuring colourful rabbits in New York.

The college has allowed Geraldine to host an exhibition in its gallery space. One wall will display photographs of Karen, while the rest of the room will be filled art work from between 50 and 60 people.

All profits from the sale of the exhibits will be donated to the British Lung Foundation.

Geraldine, 39, from Wimbledon said: “Hopefully we will raise a substantial amount of money. Every penny raised will go to the charity.

“I felt as friends we should pick up the baton and run with it. They didn't complete their trip or raise the money they set out to raise so we should do that for them.

“It's about friendship; finishing something for somebody. Hopefully we will have this wonderful exhibition that will celebrate her life and work and all her friends will be there and it will be a fantastic celebration for her.”

The art exhibition will take place from December 9 to 11.

For more information or to take part, visit www.karensjourney.co.uk