This online memorial was created in loving memory of

Kyrece 

 Francis

Thank you all for your support with  Kyrece's Legacy

please visit our official website for the charity

www.ky22.co.uk

09/09/2014

Kyrece fundraisers launch new appeal after huge initial success

FOLLOWING a hugely successful campaign to keep alive the memory of a tragic Marlow teenager, fundraisers have launched a second appeal in his name.

The Kyrece Francis Legacy Fund generated around £15,000 when the community rallied following the 13-year-old’s tragic death on the River Thames in Marlow in July.

Set up by his friends, the fund sought to pay for lifesaving equipment along the stretch of river where the talented footballer and avid Chelsea fan lost his life while out playing with mates.

And after pledges from throughout the area during the last round of fundraising, they have decided to carry on their quest to prevent further tragedies near the spot by setting up a new fundraising web page.

"We have set up another page to help us raise funds for safety equipment and to raise awareness for the legacy of Kyrece. www.ky22.co.uk

"The community lost such an amazing and talented young lad who was a well-loved part of our society. It made us realise that our community need to know more of the dangers the river holds and be able to enjoy our surrounding areas safely."

"With so many deaths over the years we believe now is the time so start helping as a whole community.

"It’s our aim to provide safety equipment along the River Thames, including, life jackets, buoys and signs of awareness to the dangers of swimming in the river."

Marlow came to a standstill last month for Kyrece’s funeral, with hundreds of people joining the procession on foot to All Saints Church for the Great Marlow School pupil.

His teammates at Downley Dynamos FC led the procession, wearing a new strip donated by Wycombe Wanderers, where Kyrece’s stepdad Lewis Cook used to be a player.

The fundraising team also hope to supply safety videos to schools and distribute teaching tools for teachers to explain to their pupils the dangers of swimming in open water.

Jack Sheldon, Team Lead at Yimby, the crowdfunding site used to raise the funds, said: "While this was a tragic accident, the community has come together to do something positive out of a sad situation and making sure it won’t happen to anyone else.

"We want to help make sure that his legacy is set to continue."

The inquest into the death of Kyrece is set to take place on October 16.

Coroner Richard Hulett issued a warning after the tragedy to avoid any more deaths, after five similar incidents were recorded across the UK within a week.

To donate to the cause, visit     www.ky22.co.uk

 6 September 2014

Drowned boy Kyrece Francis fund raises £12,000 in drowned boy's memory

More than £12,000 has been raised in memory of a boy who drowned in the River Thames to provide safety equipment along river paths.

Kyrece Francis, 13, was swept into deep water near Gossmore Lane, Marlow, Buckingham-shire, in July.

Kyrece's Legacy fund was set up to provide life jackets, buoys and warning signs on the dangers of river swimming.

Fund organisers said they wanted to stop it happening again.

people made loom bands to sell and receiving about 5,000, which are still being sold.

Fundraisers hope to put warning signs along the River Thames

including Spade Oak where Kyrece got into difficulties

An online fundraising page has also been set up with an initial £2,000 target.

 Now the campaign's initial deadline has been superseded, a new page will be set up.

"It's been amazing, to think how much has been done in a month,"

As well as the safety equipment, fundraisers are also looking to make a video

and teach about the dangers in schools.

"We won't stop everyone, people are defiant and think it won't happen to them,

but if there are signs warning them of the dangers, we hope they will think twice," she said.

so many lives have been lost and nothing has been done, so we have to try."

one month today this young beautiful boy has been taken from us it doesn't feel right that your not around anymore it just feels like life's not complete without you kyaboo I really can't explain how much I miss you and how hard this is for me all the fun times and all the memories I'm never going to forget them or you kyza we will meet again sooner or later you was the sweetest boy that I actually knew, like when I didn't have the confidence to go and speak to that boy at the party because of my weight and you said your beautiful the way you are no one can change that r.i.p kyky my beautiful angel i love you,

 

Went to go lay some flowers down for you today Ky, 1 month today you said goodbye, I cried but when your mum hugged me it gave me the strength not to cry anymore, You leaving us proves how short life can be, I love you so much and miss you so much, 1 month on and I still can't believe that God had to take you, As they say they always take the good ones firstStay safe up there, Hope to hear your jokes and to see that gorgeous smile soon Soldier

A month since you were taken away from us and I still can't believe you are gone. I just wanna wake up and all of this was just a bad dream but its not its real you are always gonna be in my heart forever. Stay strong Shay and Simone(and the family). He will be proud of all of us. Missing you as each day goes by. Sleep tight kyza. Love you so much angel

Fitness instructor vows to help Kyrece appeal

A FITNESS instructor, whose clients include those directly affected by the tragic death of Kyrece Francis, will hold a fundraising bootcamp in his memory tomorrow.

Josh Woods said he was so moved by the teenager's death he wanted to do whatever he could to help and will put recruits through their paces in the name of his charity fund.

He said: “I asked if I could help in any way and we decided together to put this on with my members.

“You can’t help but be moved, it’s so tragic. If we can prevent this happening in future then we should all pull together and to what we can to help.”

The Kyrece Memorial Fund - set up by the teenager’s friends - has smashed its original target of £2000, generating over £12,000 towards lifesaving equipment along the river where he lost his life.

All levels of fitness are welcome to the outdoor fitness session tomorrow from 10am at Great Marlow School, with suggested donations of £5 going to the fund.

Kyrece fundraisers confident they can break £15k mark

ORGANISERS of the hugely successful fundraising campaign in memory of Kyrece Francis say they are confident they can break the £15,000 mark - more than seven times the original target.

Donations have continued to pour in since the teenager’s friends launched the fund in the days following his death last month, to prevent future tragedies on the river.

And with pledges still to come in from collections by shops and businesses,  everyone has been staggered by the community response.

Kyrece’s close friends, said: “It’s going great and it was pretty amazing when we saw we’d smashed the 11k mark. We were all together and saw the total and it was just an ‘oh my God’ moment.

“There are companies that have said they are willing to sponsor us which is very nice and we’ve now set up a committee for the charity.

“We are waiting for go ahead to confirm our charity number but at the moment that is still going through.

“But lots of other places have raised money but can’t release it until we have registered the charity so we know the total is much higher. I think we can confidently say it is going to be over 15,000.”

Hundreds turned out for Kyrece’s funeral on Saturday, with a procession on foot stretching the length of Marlow High Street.

Work is currently underway towards providing life jackets, buoys, awareness signs and other safety measures on the Thames Path where Kyrece tragically lost his life on July 22.

Recent pledges to the Kyrece Memorial Fund include £800 from Marks and Spencer in the Eden Centre where Kyrece’s grandmother works. 

And the Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League have donated £250 to the cause of the football-mad youngster, who won ‘most improved player’ for Downley Dynamos under 14s this season.

 Kyrece's Legacy 

How will the money be spent?

Providing the River Thames paths with Life Jackets,

Buoys and awareness signs to the dangers of swimming in the River Thames.

Amount Raised  : £12,164    

25/08/2014

Donated by friends and colleagues at Marks and Spencer,

Eden Store, High Wycombe for cake bake sale and In store charity sale .....

08/19/2014

£800.00

The Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League recognize that by giving we may be able to help stop future accidents like this happening.

Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League 08/18/2014

£250.00

Contributions from: New Testament Church Of God, Hempstead & Johnson few friends from WDC & family friends to this worthy cause. Kyrece is now resting in the arms of God.

Cass Clouden 08/17/2014

£105.00

Hundreds gather to pay their respects to

Kyrece Jamhal Marshall Francis

MARLOW came to a standstill as hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye to the “beautiful, cheeky, energetic and unique” Kyrece Francis today.

So many people attended the funeral service of the football-mad youngster, it was relayed through speakers so mourners outside unable to get into the church could hear what was being said.

Hundreds of people walked from Great Marlow School, where Kyrece was a pupil and was due to start studying for his GCSEs next year when he returned after the summer holidays, to All Saints church in the town centre.

Many mourners came dressed in the kit of the side he supported, Chelsea, while several others wore blue clothing to match the colour of the team’s shirts. His coffin was painted blue and white and bore the Chelsea club crest.

His Downley Dynamoes team mates, dressed in the club’s kit, carried a floral arrangement in the shape of the number 22, his shirt number with the team.

Some of his team mates gave a tribute to him during the church service,

with his girlfriend saying: “You brought sunshine into our lives.”

Kyrece, who would have celebrated his 14th birthday on Wednesday, died in a tragic accident in the River Thames at Marlow when he was out playing with his friends.

His family gave heartfelt tributes to the popular teenager during the funeral service.

His father Jason Marshall said: “I feel privileged to be a dad to such a beautiful, cheeky, energetic and unique young man. Every day I spent with Ky was full of love and a learning experience.”

His grandfather Freddie Finlay said: “The loss of this beautiful young man so young – a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a boyfriend, a team mate and a friend – has devastated us all. Kyrece has touched us all and is in us all.”

  Lewis Cook said: “Your mum’s unconditional love for you rubbed off on me – you were a gift from her heart.

Watching you [play football] week in, week out – me, your mum and your sister are very proud of all your lifetime achievements. I’m privileged to have been in your life, to see you grown into such a strong character.”

A memorial fund was set up in his memory to provide life-saving equipment along the Thames path to prevent future tragedies on the river. More than £10,000 has been raised so far.

The family's  would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all for their prayers, telephone calls, cards, emails and messages of condolences and their kind words of sympathy that has been extended to us during our time of bereavement of our beloved Son, Brother, Cousin, Nephew, Grandson & Great~Grandson.

Your words of encouragement have been a source of strength to us

I didn't know Kyrece but heard of this tragic story through a good friend Andy Burrell and would like to show our support. Our thoughts go to Kyrece Family and friends. Stu & Nadex

08/06/2014

£100.00

Saturday 16th August 2014, 11am

Marlow All Saints Church,

A LARGE turnout is expected along the streets of Marlow tomorrow for the funeral of Kyrece Francis, who would have celebrated his 14th birthday this week.

A procession is taking place from the Marlow teenager’s school, Great Marlow on Bobmore Lane, to All Saints Church from 10am.

Schoolfriends and mourners will accompany the funeral cars on foot to the church for the service, which begins at 11am, as loved ones bid a final goodbye to the popular schoolboy.

Police are advising motorists to avoid the roads in the town centre as they are likely to be very congested.

The service for Kyrece at the Causeway church will be followed by a private family burial.

Anyone wishing to contribute is urged to make a donation to the Kyrece Memorial Fund set up in his memory to provide life-saving equipment along the Thames path to prevent future tragedies on the river.

The fund has far exceeded its target of £2000, generating over £10,400 in only three weeks.

I will never forget you

Wanderers unveil new kit donated in memory of Kyrece

Totteridge FC 

Car wash held in memory of Marlow teenager

FIREFIGHTERS and young footballers joined together to hold a car wash in memory of Kyrece Francis.

Yesterday a stream of cars continued to arrive at Beaconsfield Fire Station to be washed from 10am to 3pm.

It was held in memory of 13-year-old Kyrece Francis,who died in the River Thames in Marlow on July 22 when friends said he went to fetch a football.

All money raised from the event will be split between The Fire Fighters Charity and the fundraising campaign set up by Kyrece's friends to buy life jackets, buoys and awareness signs for along the Thames Path.

Kyrece played for Downley Dynamos under 14s and his team mates and their parents came out in force to pitch in with a sponge and clean cars.

Team mate Jake Bradshaw, 13, said: "It feels like part of you is missing.

"Whenever we go out we feel like we are missing someone.

"He was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Nobody could ever say a bad word about him. Everybody loved him."

Coach Steve Small said they wanted to do something to help raise money.

He added: "Kyrece was with us for about two and a half to three years.

"He was a really good kid. He was a very good footballer and he was getting better all of the time."

As well as the car wash there was a cake stall, with hundreds of cakes donated.

Kyrece's girlfriend said: "The car wash has brought Kyrece's Downley football friends and Marlow friends together, he would like that. The successful outcome of the day shows how much everyone really loves him."

This event has definitely brought a lot of the Wycombe and Marlow community together.

"It is amazing and shows how well known he was and how well liked."

Kyrece went to Great Marlow School and his school friends said they want to continue to fundraise with one saying: "We all feel like we have a part to play."

Neil Curry, who is a full time fire fighter and coached the teenager at Downley Dynamos said it was good to see everyone coming together and pitching in.

The final amount raised is yet to be added up.

money donated at the charity car wash at Beaconsfield fire station

Neil Curry 08/04/2014

£536.00

Mother of tragic teenager Kyrece praises friends for their support

THE grieving mother of Kyrece Francis has thanked all his friends for their support since his tragic death, praising their positivity in trying to prevent further lives being lost on the river.

Simone Francis said despite the school holidays having started, friends of Kyrece have stuck together to help support the family since tragedy struck last week after he got into difficulty in the Thames at Marlow.

And she passed on her gratitude for the fundraising appeal to pay for lifesaving equipment near the spot where he died, which has smashed its target total within days.

She said: “I am just happy they are doing something positive to help keep his name alive. They have been really strong and coming round to the house, they have been a big help to me.

“They have all been sticking together and to raise that amount is a great achievement. If it’s able to save lives then that’s the main thing.”

Since Ms Francis passed on her thanks yesterday, the Kyrece Legacy fund set up by the 13-year-old’s friends has raised a further £2000 and now stands at over £6500.

And organisers hope a charity car wash planned for Saturday at Beaconsfield Fire Station will help boost the fund further and pay for more lifesaving equipment along the Thames path.

Sincere condolences to his Mother and Father ,

nearest and dearest.

The loss of a child is so very hard. May the pain of your loss ease and happy memories carry you through.  He will always be in your heart to carry close to you, even when the pain eases.  My sincere condolences for your loss.

I never knew Kyrece but its clear from the many sites created in his memory, just how much he was liked and loved. 

My thoughts and prayers are with his Mother, Father, family and friends.

RIP x

Over time as people contribute their messages, photos and poetry to the online memorial,

Our Condolences to the family.

New by-law bans swimming in River Thames

2:40pm Monday 28th July 2014

Friends of Kyrece rally round to prevent further river tragedies

FRIENDS of teenager Kyrece Francis, who died tragically last week in an accident on the River Thames in Marlow, have rallied round to help prevent anything similar from happening again.

  Friends of Kyrece have teamed up, vowing to raise money in his memory for lifesaving equipment near the spot.

The proactive teenagers have already smashed their £2000 target, pulling in over £4300 since launching the campaign late last week.

And the determined youngsters have been flooded with messages of support alongside donations to provide life jackets, buoys and awareness signs along the Thames Path.

"Amazingly, the kids have been incredibly positive in facing this and focusing on the tragedy from a different angle. It’s gone much further than we could have expected and the kids are being so proactive about it.

"We just want to save further lives from being at risk. We heard four teenagers including Kyrece died (in the UK) in a matter of days from swimming and possibly not knowing the dangers.

"The river looks so calm but you just don’t know what’s going on underneath and the risks involved."

Fundraisers for Kyrece’s Legacy, which has a Just Giving page for donations, are currently looking around for quotes on installing the safety equipment at the riverside.

The group has already had an offer to install the warning signs for free,

and is in the process of trying to establish the fund with the charity commission.

Floral tributes have poured in at Great Marlow School, where Kyrece was a pupil, as grieving friends and well-wishers try to come to terms with the 13-year-old’s tragic death just days after the school holidays began.

There has also been an outpouring of emotion at his former school, Highcrest Academy, where tributes and flowers have also been left.

The promising Downley Dynamos footballer was with a group of friends, including his girlfriend, when he got in to difficulty in the river at about 4.30pm on Tuesday.

It is understood Kyrece had been trying to retrieve a football from the water at the time.

Friends of the Great Marlow pupil desperately tried to rescue him but were unable to pull him to safety.

Thames Valley Police’s Specialist Search and Rescue Team and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue combed the area for almost four hours before officers made their heartbreaking discovery at 8pm.

The search began around the area of Marlow Rugby Club, near Gossmore Lane, and continued down the river toward Well End.

Kyrece’s family have described him as an "angel that would make everyone around him smile."

As well as a charity football match, a collection was made on Saturday outside Asda in High Wycombe towards the fund, alongside the messages and donations on the fund’s Just Giving site.

A huge turnout is also expected on Saturday as firefighters begin a charity car wash in his honour at Beaconsfield Fire Station from 10am.

Firefighter and Kyrece’s former football coach Neil Curry is spearheading the effort in memory of the Dymanos youth player.

And the part-time coach hopes the service will agree to donate funds from the day to Kyrece’s Legacy fund, which has so far received over 275 pledges.

To donate, visit   www.ky22.co.uk

 Creating an online memorial is an important way to ensure that your loved one is remembered and honored.

 AtiFraMai©