THE mother of a former Mangotsfield School pupil who was killed in a lorry crash has climbed a mountain to raise money for a charity which gave her family vital support.
Gemma Showering and eight other relatives and friends of Tyler Carley have so far raised more than £700 from sponsorship of their trek up Pen Y Fan in Wales.
The group, which included Tyler’s 11-year-old brother Kylan, climbed through driving rain to complete the climb on July 7.
They were raising money for 2wish, a bereavement charity which helps the families of young people who have died.
Tyler, who was 20, died in December when the lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the A4174 Avon Ring Road near Mangotsfield.
His family have set up a foundation in his memory to support charities that offer help to bereaved relatives, and have started a series of events.
Gemma, of Thornbury, said: “When it happened there was no-one to turn to and you were left to fend for yourself. You haven’t got a clue what to do.”
Gemma said Sandra Davies, the landlady of the Swan pub in Thornbury, put her in touch with 2wish, as she started arranging coffee mornings as the charity expanded its operations from Wales into England.
Sandra had already organised a charity bingo night and raffle to raise more than £1,000 to support the family following Tyler’s death.
Gemma said: “The work 2wish do is just amazing. They offer so much, it’s just incredible.
“My youngest son is doing play therapy, I’ve had some counselling and it’s nice that they’re on the end of the phone when you need them – they’re just there.
“Anybody is able to get support from them, even Tyler’s friends – some of them are only 20 themselves, and they’re struggling.
“They do so many things and rely on donations as a charity.”
Gemma has met other bereaved families at the coffee mornings.
She said: “You get to hear everybody’s stories – although they are all different, everybody’s in the same position.”
The idea to climb Pen Y Fan came from Gemma’s niece Layla, and soon her other niece, Mollie, best friend and stepdad also offered to join in the three-hour climb.
Gemma said: “The weather was terrible – it was absolutely tipping it down.
“None of us had ever done it before but thinking of the reason why we were doing it kept us going.”
As the Voice went to print the event had raised £785 online for 2wish. The donation page is still open at tinyurl.com/msfenmw7.
For more details of upcoming events visit the Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation Facebook page.