Crowdfunding effort for memorial bench plan

Friends . . . Lisa Lees (left) and Alison Howe who will have a bench installed in their memory in Royton Park

PLANS are under way to install a new bench in Royton Park in memory of two Manchester attack victims.

The wooden "bee memorial bench" is being hand-made in loving memory of Royton mums Alison Howe (44) and Lisa Lees (43).

It is hoped a JustGiving page will hit a £1,000 target for the bench, which would include their names and several bees around the bench to represent Manchester and remember those the city has lost.

Organiser Keeley Berry (28) said: "The idea came when I was with my children in the park. It's such a beautiful green area full of flowers in central Royton and I instantly thought it would be perfect for a memorial to remember our fellow Roytonians who we lost.

"With the families' blessings, please share the JustGiving link and donate whatever you can.

"We will stand strong, stay united, and remember them, and love. Love with everything we have."

Keeley, who lives off Middleton Road, began fundraising several years ago after her mum was diagnosed with cancer and she wanted to give something back to the Christie Hospital.

The pub singer has since raised money for several causes, including for the "Something Special" fund in memory of Shaw gas blast victim Jamie Heaton.

This latest endeavour has involved applying to Oldham Council for planning permission.

If the proposals are passed Keeley hopes to arrange a day-long "family party in the park" event to officially open the bench.

She said: "I hope the bench will give mainly their families somewhere local to go to remember their loved ones, forever, and for us all to go and remember them by."

So far £220 has been donated.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Roytonmemorialbeebench.