Scholarship fund in memory of death crash mum

Sasha Roberts, 40, from The Course, Lewes, died on September 7 2006, when a lorry hit her car on the hard shoulder of the M2.

Her son Lio Spinelli also suffered life-threatening injuries but has made a miraculous recovery and recently celebrated his sixth birthday.

Husband Martin Spinelli and Sasha's parents set up the fund with the University of Kent where she was a lecturer.

The aim of the fund is provide a scholarship for a student to study Renaissance literature, the subject which Sasha was researching.

Mr Spinelli said: 'I have been simply astounded at the generosity of people. And I mean not just our old friends and family, but the international academic community to which Sasha was so important, and to the wider community of people in Lewes.

'The time and the energy of people to raise money and their own contributions has simply been staggering.

'The Friends of the Lewes Arms (where Sasha was a regular and panto cast member), the Lewes Constitutional Club, Harvey's, my friends and colleagues have just got on with it and generated thousands of pounds for the scholarship.

'We're going to make the first annual award of the Sasha Roberts Scholarship on January 15 at the university.'

Martin and Lio enjoyed Christmas and New Year in Italy with Martin and Sasha's family. Lio had plenty of opportunity to show off his fluent Italian which hw was taught by Sasha.

Despite suffering brain injuries in the accident Lio has made great progress.

Before they set off for Italy Lio also celebrated his sixth birthday.

Mr Spinelli said: 'This is really more than a birthday party, it's a celebration of how miraculously well he's doing and of how far he's come this past year.'