A GoFundMe set up for an 11-year-old girl who was left orphaned after a car crash claimed the lives of her parents and two sisters has reached over $500,000.
Tragedy occurred on Sunday, July 21 after Shane Roller, his partner Shannen Morgan, and their daughters Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four, tragically died on the A61 near Wakefield, UK.
According to The Mirror, the family had been out for a walk when their Ford Focus collided with a motorcycle at around 3.45PM.
Poppie, 11, decided not to join the stroll and instead stayed with a family friend, Paul Hepple, 37, in Barnsley.
Credit: GoFundMe
Following the heartbreaking incident, Hepple started a GoFundMe to raise money to ensure the 11-year-old girl “has a stable, loving environment where she can heal and grow”.
The funds will be used for living expenses, education, and any counseling she may need in after the tragedy.
“Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in Poppie’s life. Your generosity will help her navigate this difficult time and build a brighter future,” the description read.
Over 500K was raised for Poppie after she lost her family to a devastating car crash. Credit: GoFundMe
Three months later, the campaign amassed £408,207 ($533K) in donations – significantly more than the $3,000 original target.
Hepple, who is the schoolgirl’s carer, issued an emotional update, expressing gratitude to everyone for their generosity after an “astonishing” amount of money was raised for Poppie.
He penned that he was silent because he wanted to “keep things low-key while the family tries to grieve and navigate this heartbreaking tragedy, as well as for the funeral and other arrangements to take place”.
“There have been 22.5 thousand donations from people all over the world. Donations are now closed, as the amount raised is far beyond what anyone could have expected. It’s truly remarkable,” he continued. “Her aunt Faye has been added as the beneficiary to handle the funds, and she will transfer them to the trust fund.”
Hepple also discussed the little girl’s progress: “Poppie is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. She has bravely returned to school and, although she was nervous at first, she is slowly settling in. She is receiving therapy at school, which is helping her navigate her loss.”
He revealed that Poppie and her Aunt have received “invaluable support from Brake, the road safety charity, who have been instrumental in helping them manage the legal side of things and providing guidance”.
“Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued kindness, patience, and support. Your generosity has not only secured Poppie’s future but has also brought light during a very dark time,” he concluded.
Per The Mirror, the police are still investigating the incident. An inquest has been postponed to a future date yet to be determined.
The outlet reported that authorities arrested a man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving just days after the horror car crash.
Our thoughts continue to be with Poppie at this time.