The family of a Bradford teacher who died from injuries she suffered in an accident in a supermarket car park will fulfil her legacy by opening part of a Gambian school in her memory.
Tracey Askham’s three daughters and son will join a group of staff and pupils at Immanuel College, Thackley, to finish work on the teachers’ quarters at its sister school, Minteh Kundeh Lower Basic School, when they visit the country next April.
A football tournament and fun day was held at Thackley Football Club yesterday, where more than 600 people gathered to raise the money needed to finish work on the building, which will be named Tracey Askham House in tribute to her.
Mrs Askham, 47, a teacher at Immanuel College, died on August 28, a week after she became trapped behind her Mini Cooper when it was hit by another vehicle at Morrisons in Five Lane Ends, Bradford.
Her eldest daughter Chantelle Aleksander, 24, was at yesterday’s event with her sisters Victoria, 22, and Bethany, 19, and brother Jack Rhodes, 16, who played in the football tournament.
She said: “It will be amazing when it’s finally finished. I know it’s what my mum would have wanted.
“We all would have preferred to be able to work on it with her, but we will finish it for her. It’s nice that my mum’s name will be known as far away as that.”
Mrs Askham and a colleague first got involved with the Gambian Schools Trust in 2006 and since then, along with students, have raised £5,000 to build the school a new library.
About £1,000 is needed to finish work on a new teachers’ quarters, so Kayley Gregory, one of Mrs Askham’s pupils, came up with the idea of a football tournament.
The 17-year-old said: “She was my teacher, but I also got on really well with her. I knew we had to raise this money and I came up with the idea about three weeks ago.
“We’ve had lots support from businesses donating prizes and it’s great to see so many people here today.”
Sam White, sociology and criminology teacher, said £900 had already been raised through a raffle.
“We will be going over there in April, with Tracey’s partner and children, to finish what she started. But we’re not going to stop at that. We are already talking about our next project.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article