Emily Brown
Caring strangers have raised more than $300,000 for an 11-year-old girl who tragically lost her entire family in a car accident.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help support the orphaned girl, named Poppie, after the incident took place in Yorkshire, UK on Sunday (22 July).
Parents Shane Roller and Shannen Morgan had been driving in a Ford Focus with two of their daughters, Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four, when the car collided with a motorbike.
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All four family members were killed in the crash, as were the man and woman who were on the motorbike.
Poppie was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
Paul Hepple, a close friend of the family, set up the GoFundMe page to help support Poppie in the wake of the loss, writing that she has 'lost her whole world in an instant'.
Hepple described the 11-year-old as a 'bright and resilient young girl' who has shown 'incredible strength' following the loss of her family.
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He explained the GoFundMe page would be used to help give Poppie a 'stable, loving environment', while she copes with her grief.
The money is set to go towards living expenses, education and extracurricular activities, counseling and emotional support, as well as to set up a trust fund to 'secure Poppie's long-term wellbeing and any unforeseen needs that may arise'.
The page was created just one day ago (22 July) with a fundraising goal of £3,000 ($3,870).
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At the time of writing (23 July), the page has massively exceeded its goal and has already raised £253,704 ($327,288), with more donations constantly flooding in.
Hepple has thanked everyone who has shown their support for Poppie as she deals with the tragic loss of her family. He explained that Poppie, who is 'best friends' with his stepdaughter, has been living with his family since the accident.
"Regarding the donations, I want to assure you that every penny will go directly to Poppie’s new guardian, her auntie," he continued.
Hepple went on to explain that Poppie's aunt will be 'entirely responsible for managing the donations, ensuring that all funds are used for Poppie’s well-being, including her living expenses, education, and any counseling she may need' going forwards.
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"Additionally, some of the funds may be used for the funeral expenses for Poppie’s family if they choose to," he added.
"Thank you all once again for your incredible generosity and support. Your contributions are making a significant difference in Poppie’s life, providing her with the stability and care she needs during this difficult time."
If you'd like to donate to the GoFundMe page, you can do so here.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.