The legacy of tragic Angus man Bailey Menmuir is to live on in donations from an overwhelming response to a crowdfunding campaign and future fundraising in his name.
A little over six weeks since the popular 21-year-old was laid to rest, it has emerged almost £16,500 poured into an online appeal for support.
It included many people who knew Bailey through his football coaching and involvement with town side FC 1320.
Mr Fair, the Church of Scotland’s Moderator-elect, had made a plea to the young people in the packed congregation at the funeral to support each other as a community and his support has been praised by those closest to Bailey.
In a social media update on the crowdfunder total, family friend Lesley Munro said: “On behalf of Bailey’s family and friends I just wanted to thank all who have provided support throughout and those who donated very generously to the Go Fund effort in his name.
“From the beginning it was apparent what Bailey meant to so many people.
“Martin opened his doors to all and offered a safe place for us all to congregate on that night and has continued to be there for everyone who needed it.”
She also hailed the role played by the town-based Reach Across charity, established by local mother Sandra Ramsay following the death of her son, Ross in 2013 after he went missing from his Glasgow home.
“Both Martin and Reach Across have offered a great service to our young people in the town, and a few of the older ones as well, and are continuing to do so at a time when it is sorely needed.”
Arbroath’s Coast restaurant and its staff , which provided the venue for the funeral tea for free and made a sizeable donation to the fund were praised for their “amazing kindness in the darkest of times”.
Lesley added: “With the amazing amount of money raised, £16,455, we gave Bailey the send-off he deserved, and are now in the process of getting a final resting place for him and his mum.
“We also had enough to settle his estate and will be making donations in the local community in his name.
The memorial football match held at Gayfield Park raised an amazing £4,000 and that will be donated to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) very soon.
“We have many more ideas in the pipeline to ensure that we will continue to raise money in his name so his legacy will live on, #forever21,” said Lesley.
