Mother of schoolgirl shot dead in Northiam launches memorial fund

The mother of a seven-year-old girl who was shot dead in Northiam has launched a memorial fund to raise money for children’s charities.

Mary Shipstone died earlier this month after she was shot outside her home.

Mary Shipstone Memorial Fund

Her family has set up the Mary Shipstone Memorial Fund to remember the seven-year-old and to support The Music Well charity, based in Rye, which offers music therapy to children who have suffered trauma.

Her mother, Lyndsey, also agreed for Mary’s organs to be donated, which has helped five other children including two babies.

Lyndsey said: “Mary had her life snatched away from her so cruelly when there was so much promise, but I would like people to remember her little smiling face.

“She was such a happy child and I think that is the memory that will stay with people who knew Mary.

“It was important to allow Mary to make the gift of her organs because she was such a healthy girl.

“She’d never been sick in that way. I thought it would be a way of Mary living on in these children in some small way. It is a great comfort to know that other children will survive through Mary.”

To donate to the memorial fund visit http://www.gofundme.com/ejpqc8.