A group that was set up in memory of a Burnham-On-Sea teenager who died last autumn has gained official charity status this week – exactly six months on from the tragedy.
Charley Marks, 18, took his own life last September and the charity, In Charley’s Memory, has been created to support young people with mental health issues.
Charley’s mother, Jo Clement, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s exactly six months since Charley passed away so for us to receive the charity number this week, on the day that he died, is surreal.”
“I am genuinely so overwhelmed at how my team from In Charley’s Memory have worked so hard to enable this to happen, especially our secretary Emily Sanders who is also training to be a teacher while running for Miss England plus running the day to day things of In Charley’s Memory. Without her dedication, determination and kindness it would have taken a lot longer for us to have obtained charity status.”
“It makes everything now official and means we can be taken seriously as a charity and allows us to now apply for community/company grants to enable us to reach our end goal of opening Charley’s Haven.”
“I’m totally humbled and overwhelmed at the support we have received from people in our community and further afield, for which I’d like to thank them.”
The charity’s next event will be a Good Friday ball on April 3rd on Weston Pier. Tickets, costing £30, are on sale now by calling 07456 711611 or 07502 335188.
