FAMILY and friends of a mum-of-three who died following a seizure in Turkey have held a fundraising event to raise money for her three daughters.
Melissa Kinsella, from Moreton, was due to fly home after a holiday in Turkey on Monday, May 15 with her partner, Jay Smith, his family and their three children, Chloe, Beau, and Romi.
The 30-year-old suffered a seizure before boarding her flight and was rushed to hospital where her family found out she had swelling on her brain and heart.
After Melissa's best friend, Rebecca Dath, 35, set up a Go Fund Me page, which raised over £50,000 for Melissa to be flown home, she arrived back in the UK on Wednesday, May 24 by air ambulance.
After having tests in Arrowe Park Hospital, Melissa's mum, Michelle Heathcoate, posted a public post on social media on Friday, May 26, confirming that doctors had declared Melissa clinically dead.
Fundraising event
On Friday (June 16), Sally Connolly, who is Michelle's best friend, along with Melissa's colleagues Kelly Heaps, Rachel Howe and Nicki Pleavin from Meraki, held a fundraising event at The Vineyard Bar & Kitchen, on Upton Rd.
A total of £1,500 was raised, which will all go into ISA accounts for Melissa's three children.
Sasha Mathias hosted the event, which had a raffle, karaoke and games.
Speaking to the Globe, Sally said: "We had tickets on wands and whenever Reach for the Stars played you all had to get up and dance with your wands in the air.
"It was just an absolutely amazing night and gave everyone a bit of a boost after everything that has been going on."
Around 60 of Melissa's friends and family, including her sister, Zoe Kinsella attended the event to celebrate her and raise funds for her three girls.
Steph, who is the manager of The Vineyard, also donated 10% of bar sales to the fund and supplied free food for everyone.
Sally added: "It was a really fun night.
"Everyone was in really good spirits, especially after everything. Steph shut the venue just for us which was amazing."
In a tribute to the Globe earlier this month Rebecca explained how Melissa "lived for her girls".
She said: "Melissa was the bubbliest person you could ever meet. She lived for her girls Chloe, Beau and Romi, they were her world along with her partner Jay, who she adored."
Melissa's funeral will take place on Friday, June 30.
The horse and carriage will leave the family home at 10.30am and will travel to the Landican Cemetery, on Arrowe Park Road, for the funeral to begin at 12pm.
Everyone is asked to wear "brightly coloured clothes" to "light up the chapel".
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