Birthday fundraiser held to remember '˜remarkable' Shoreham girl

A band from Shoreham College performed on the night

Friends and family threw a party to celebrate what would have been the 18th birthday of a Shoreham schoolgirl who died of a rare blood disorder.

Amelia Leclercq was 14 when she was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a condition in which the body’s bone marrow does not make enough new blood cells, in April, 2013.

The Shoreham College student, described by her mother as a ‘brave’ and ‘remarkable’ girl, desperately needed a bone marrow transplant – but by the time a match was found it was too late, and she died in August, 2013, after developing septicaemia.

Now, four years later, her best friend Ella Scammell decided to throw a birthday bash in her honour, to help raise funds for blood disorder charity Anthony Nolan.

The party was in honour of Amelia, on what would have been her 18th birthday

“It was amazing,” she said of the event, held at St Peter’s Church hall on Saturday. “So many people came, it was packed in there.

“Everyone said how much they enjoyed it. I think everyone needed it – I know I did.”

The 18-year-old, of Greenacres, said it was a great way to remember Amelia, and said: “She was definitely there with us.”

The night involved a performance from a Shoreham College band, a raffle and auction, which helped raise more than £4,300 for the charity– double the target of £2,000.

Ella made a speech and led a toast to Amelia alongside Jane, Amelia’s mother, while a slideshow of photos of Amelia with family and friends played in the background.

Jane Leclercq, of Greenacres, thanked Ella and her mother, Corinna, who she said were ‘inspirational’ in organising the event.

“It was a very emotional evening, but in a lovely way,” she said. “We had a full house.

“Young and old people from every stage in Amelia’s life came to remember her.

A raffle and auction helped raise more than Â£4,000

“The young people were instrumental in Amelia’s life and it was very touching to see them all there.”

She thanked all attendees for supporting the cause ‘with such enthusiasm’, raising awareness of blood disorders and of joining the stem cell registry.

Visit the justgiving page to donate to the cause

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.