Claire Squires

[Babylon]

For those that don't know she was the woman from Leicestershire who died running the marathon on Sunday. Since her death donations on her just giving page have from from £500+ to £303954.20 and it's still rising.

Restores a bit of faith in humanity that so many people can be touched by someone effectively giving their life for charity.

http://www.justgiving.com/user/24487001

[jonlcfc1990]

Donated last night a long with the Birch run and Stringy for his marathon, This year has been bad money wise leaving a job for less pay wasn't easy but there are always people worse off. Just like yesterday while we were all disgruntled and unhappy at a loss one of our players was with his Wife in hospital while they fought to save their family. Events like these put the world into context and all the everyday moans and groans seem to fall by the wayside. Thoughts are with her family and friends at this time of loss and i hope people keep donating and keep looking for ways to give something back to the less fortunate.

[Guest MattP]

Like you say, restores a lot of faith in humanity when you see something like this.

[cambridgefox]

Very sad,but its amazing seeing the public support for this.i went on the donations site an hour ago to donate and about 25k had donated 285k.

Its now on 314k and 28k donations.what an effort.Thoughts to her family.

[Babylon]

Thoughts to her family.

I hope in some small way it helps them knowing that their tragedy will help 1000's.

[James.]

It's an amazing response. And also quite interesting to see what captures the imagination of the general public and what doesn't.

[Babylon]

It's an amazing response. And also quite interesting to see what captures the imagination of the general public and what doesn't.

Pissed me off this morning seeing some tin pot bbc radio station asking if it's just a load of people "bandwagon jumping". So bloody what if it is, the reason they are is because it's a touching story, that only gets more so with every £1 that's donated.

It's like saying band aid or comic relief is bandwagon jumping.

[Babylon]

Still going at an unbelievable rate. £318713.66

[Guest]

Restores a bit of faith in humanity that so many people can be touched by someone effectively giving their life for charity.

http://www.justgivin...m/user/24487001

Or is it sad that people need someone to die running a race to donate?

These same people don't seem so moved by the thousands of kids dieing in Africa everyday, who will never have the chance to run a marathon or ride a white swan.

Personally I donate to charities because of what I believe is right and not because someone runs a marathon.

[Babylon]

These same people don't seem so moved by the thousands of kids dieing in Africa everyday

Really, how do you know that then? Because last time I looked we raise hundreds of millions each year for charities with links to African aid.

Why the hell can't people see it for what it is, a touching story about someone who has given up a lot of time to raise money for different charities. Are people not allowed to feel something about a sad story unless there is a starving child in it.

[Larry_LCFC]

£326,787.06

Its incredible. If you refresh it every two seconds, it is flying up constantly. Proud to be british!

[Babylon]

£326,787.06

Its incredible. If you refresh it every two seconds, it is flying up constantly. Proud to be british!

It's global now. Seems to be going up at about £10,000 every half an hour.

[purpleronnie]

I'm not surprised they have raised so much, we are one of the most generous countries.

[Guest]

Really, how do you know that then? Because last time I looked we raise hundreds of millions each year for charities with links to African aid.

Why the hell can't people see it for what it is, a touching story about someone who has given up a lot of time to raise money for different charities. Are people not allowed to feel something about a sad story unless there is a starving child in it.

I'm sure they are and I apologise for offending you with my post. I'm a cynical man giving my cynical views.

[Guest MattP]

These same people don't seem so moved by the thousands of kids dieing in Africa everyday, who will never have the chance to run a marathon or ride a white swan.

what?! We raise more for Africa from the general public than any other country in the Western World.

Just reading through her just giving page now and it's impossible not to shed a tear, would absolutely love to see it hit a million.

[Babylon]

I'm a cynical man giving my cynical views.

I would never have noticed.

[Guest]

what?! We raise more for Africa from the general public than any other country in the Western World.

And we waste much more than the total given to Africa.

btw I used Africa because it was to do with people dying. I don't donate to Africa either.

[Guest]

"There has been a real rise in the average weekly donation across 31 years, more than doubling in the

population as a whole from £0.98 in 1978 to £2.34 in 20082."

According to recent CGAP and others report.

£2.34 is just a joke.

[Webbo]

"There has been a real rise in the average weekly donation across 31 years, more than doubling in the

population as a whole from £0.98 in 1978 to £2.34 in 20082."

According to recent CGAP and others report.

£2.34 is just a joke.

That's £121.68 a year. That's not bad to me.

[James.]

The bottom line is that from the tragedy of a young woman dying thousands of people will hopefully benefit through the money raised for the Samaritans. I'm glad it's a worthwhile cause and particularly appropriate given it's Depression Awareness Week.

That said I can relate to some of what FIF says. I do think more could be done by everyone towards charity and good causes and I do question the way in which some people prioritise who they donate to and why. But that shouldn't be used cynically here as ultimately this is an amazing response from the general public. Let's just hope the money is put to good use.

[jonlcfc1990]

379,004.409 absolutely crazy every time you refresh the page the total goes up and up and up

[James.]

Announcement from the Chief Executive of The Samaritans

“We are supporting the family through this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew her.

“We desperately wish that it was not under these circumstances but we have been overwhelmed by the response from people donating in Claire’s memory.

“These donations will be put into a tribute fund and, following discussions with the family, will go towards projects they feel would have been important to Claire.

“We appreciate all that our marathon runners do; it is with their support, commitment and fundraising efforts that we are able to offer our vital service for people with nowhere else to turn."

[Reynard Bleu]

Not sure if its already been said, but this terrific person has rasied funds for a number of Charities over previous years, she sounds a vibrant, caring but decisive individual who wanted to change things for the better by her own efforts. If kids need a role model, Claire would be a goodplace to start.

[Captain...]

I'm not surprised they have raised so much, we are one of the most generous countries.

It's all "posh boys" getting extra tax relief.

#cynical

#misuse of hashtag.com

[Babylon]

When you see the samaritans made £10m last year through fund raising and investments etc, it shows what a significant sum this will actually be. It's standing at 394,464.00 and will probably be at half a million before the day is out.

When you read her story as well, her parents have been through so much already. Her brother killed himself 10 years ago and being involved in a crash that killed his girlfriend!