The Bath Forum is to host a world record-breaking attempt on Saturday, 4th June in memory of Chilcompton teenager, Emma Welch, who passed away from complications following back surgery, a year ago to the day. At least 485 participants are needed to do some very simple, simultaneous crocheting.

In the weeks before Emma’s tragic death, aged 14, her mother, Lesley, had taken up crocheting, so Emma developed a shared interest in order for the two of them to spend time together.

During Emma’s short life, she raised more than £13,000 for Brain Tumour Research through a number of daring challenges, having learnt that her former church minister, Andrew Stammers, had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Her father, Tony, has spoken movingly about what it has been like over the last year, trying to cope with the loss of his precious daughter. He explained: “Living each day without Emma is a constant struggle. Life now is about how best to get through today. I dare not think about how many years of life we may still have ahead of us without her.

“Lesley and I are learning that grief is not something you get over or move on from. Grief is something that you live with forever. It doesn’t diminish and it certainly does not go away. It’s just your capacity to hold and absorb that grief that grows until you are able to carry it without most people around you noticing it. It’s hard to explain grief to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It’s harder still to explain the grief of losing your child.

“We don’t think of Emma any less than we did when she was with us. That’s exactly the same - from the moment we wake up to the moment we drift off to sleep. We constantly talk about her. Only now, tears sometimes escape along with the immense pride and joy that we feel.

“Emma will always remain the most important thing in our lives. I once said that when Emma was born, I lost my identity; I ceased to be known as Tony and became known as Emma’s Dad. That hasn’t changed. I’m still Emma’s Dad.”

Inspired to continue Emma’s amazing legacy, her close friend and fellow Norton Hill student, Victoria Roberts, 15, hit on the idea of attempting to break two crochet world records. Victoria commented: “Emma climbed the height of Everest on an indoor climbing wall, cycled over 1,000 miles and climbed Snowdon with 135 teddy bears, despite her painful scoliosis condition. She never complained. She was an amazing example to us all, always thinking of others before herself.”

Victoria continued: “I am delighted to say that we are going to smash our first world record (a display of more than 13,000 crocheted items), having had in excess of 22,000 crocheted daisies pouring in from enthusiastic individuals and groups such as the W.I., Brownies and Guides, all over the country. We picked daisies to crochet because Daisy was Emma’s middle name. It is comforting knowing that so many people have been moved to help out because of Emma’s courageous and selfless outlook on life.

“But we still urgently need volunteers to attempt to break the number of people crocheting simultaneously at the Forum in Bath. You don’t have to even be able to crochet, as we can teach you to crochet a simple chain in just a few minutes if you turn up early. Currently, we have 236 people booked in and I am holding crochet lessons after school this week, but we need more than 485 to break the record. Please register your free place at www.eventbrite.co.uk and come along to the Forum by 10 a.m. on Saturday, 4th June. You will be away by 11 a.m. and free to enjoy the sights and shops of Bath!

“If that’s not enough to tempt you, Emma’s Dad has learnt to crochet himself (he claimed it was easy-peasy) and has issued a challenge to ’manly men’s groups’ to take on the women. Tony has also declared that he will be turning up on the day in a fetching pair of crocheted pink, yellow and white daisy shorts!”

Carol Robertson, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Emma was an amazing supporter and fundraiser for our charity. We are so grateful to Victoria and her mother, Sandra, for all their hard work organising these world record attempts in Emma’s memory. Wouldn’t it be fitting if a world record was broken on the anniversary of her loss?”

To register your free place to take part in the crochet world record, visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk and if you can’t help out on 4th June, please make a donation by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Daisy-Bear

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/daisy.bear.750

To make a donation, join in with other events or fundraise, visit: www.braintumourresearch.org or call: 01908 867200.