THE family of Ryan Hawkins look set for Disneyland after fundraisers closed in on their £5,000 target.
Residents of Slaithwaite rallied round in support of Ryan’s mum and two sisters after the four-year-old was stabbed to death at a house in Royd Street, Hill Top, on September 23.
A committee was set up to raise money to send his mum Valerie and sisters Donna, 14, and Natalie, 16, on the holiday of a lifetime to Florida.
The fundraisers are less than £50 from their target after a music and entertainment night in Slaithwaite raised more than £2,500. The total raised for the campaign, called Natalie and Donna’s Holiday Fund, now stands at £4,959.
Teresa Lockwood, of Co-operative Funeralcare, which arranged Ryan’s funeral, helped to set up the committee.
She said: “I have been absolutely blown away by the response.
“You do have some concerns when you start out with something like this because it’s a lot of money. But people have been so generous.”
About 150 people attended the event at Slaithwaite Cricket and Bowling Club on Wednesday. It included entertainment from performers who gave their time free of charge.
The fund was given a huge boost by the Joseph Salmon Trust, a Huddersfield charity that was set up to give financial help to families who have lost children.
The trust, started by Marsh couple Neil and Rachael Salmon following the death of their son Joseph from pneumonia in 2005, gave £500 to the fund.
Mr Salmon said: “Ryan’s family have been through a terrible ordeal.
“When we lost Joseph my company paid for us to go on holiday. It doesn’t change anything, but it gets you away from the area where it happened and gives you a break.
“We’re glad to be able to help do the same for Valerie, Donna and Natalie.”
Further events will take place to provide spending money for the family when they go to America this summer.
Ryan’s father Christopher Hawkins, 47, goes on trial for murder on February 25. He is also charged with the attempted murder of Donna, who survived despite being stabbed more than 20 times.
