The family of teenage fundraiser, Lucia Robinson, who sadly passed away last week, are encouraging the local community to join them in celebrating Lucia's life at her Memorial Service, which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, 9th June.
Anna Mercer, a family friend, said: "Lucia's family have said that they would love to see anyone who feels they had a connection to Lucia to come to her Remembrance Service.
"Absolutely everyone will be made welcome, to make a spectacular send-off for Lucia. She touched thousands of lives in many different ways and would have loved to see as many people as possible celebrating her life. Of course, we would request, on her family's behalf, that those who did not know her well should make space in the church for those who did."
Lucia's Service of Remembrance will be held at the church she attended, Holy Trinity Church, Frome BA11 3DE, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The church will be open from 2 p.m., so that her friends and family can sign her casket, which was one of Lucia's wishes.
Following the service, her family will be departing for a private cremation, but attendees are welcome to stay at the church for refreshments, as the family will return to celebrate Lucia's life with those that felt connected to her.
The Robinson family request no flowers, please, but donations to Children's Hospice South West would be very much appreciated. Lucia asked that no one wear black, she preferred bright colours, although, of course, many people will choose to go blue for her, as her campaign.
Lucia never let her illness take over her life. She almost immediately decided that she would make something good come out of her suffering and set up the organisation, 'Go Blue For Lucia'. Lucia realised that people wanted to do something in her name to help children with cancer. She suggested people wear blue clothes, dye their hair blue, or paint their fingernails blue. Blue wristbands were sold and a 5k run was organised, where everyone also wore blue.
Lucia used the funds to buy fans to cool the children on the ward during the hot summer months and Christmas presents for those on the ward, during a brief respite in her illness, as well as stocking the parents' coffee room with food and drinks and emergency washbags, several times over. Through the campaign, Lucia gave financial donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent and Rainbow Trust. The total of funds she has raised for these causes, including Time is Precious and Children's Hospice South West now nears £7,000.
Anna added: "Lucia really was an extraordinary young woman. She fought quietly, but unwaveringly against her illness, never giving up hope, but never submitting to anger. Her dignity in the face of this unexpected, unfair blow has been an example to everyone, showing a courage and faith beyond her years.
"Already, the outpouring of emotion at her passing has surprised and, at times, overwhelmed her family and it is expected that her Service of Celebration and Remembrance tomorrow will be no different."