The teenager’s family collected her GCSE results on Thursday morning – a milestone moment the child should have been experiencing
The family of a young girl killed in a road traffic accident is honouring her legacy as they continue to raise awareness for other victims.
Jaidyn Rice died after being hit by a car on the West Circular Road in Bangor, Co Down, on July 8. The 16-year-old’s family travelled to her school on Thursday morning to collect her GCSE results.
On Monday evening, August 25, a vigil and memory walk is due to take place in Bangor, organised by Jaidyn’s grandmother. A three-minute silence will be held to remember all those who have lost their lives in road traffic accidents.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Jaidyn’s aunt Molly said they hope Monday’s vigil will highlight the “devastation” caused by these tragic events.
“Jaidyn was always very kind to to others and a very responsible person. If you were to do something wrong, she’d be the one to tell you off,” Molly said.
“Today is Jaidyn’s day really. We are all coming together to go to collect her GCSE results from her school. We wanted to open them together and to celebrate everything she had achieved.
“My mum Judith arranged the vigil, Jaidyn’s grandmother. The purpose of Monday night is to bring family’s together from across Northern Ireland who have been in a similar situation to our family. We want to highlight that our loved ones are not statistics. They are not just a number.
“They are people. And we want to be there to be their voices, and to speak out, and hopefully to make a change, and to urge drivers on the road to be more responsible. We want to raise awareness about the subject as a whole.”
Molly praised their local community for the support it has shown the family since Jaidyn’s death in July. She said strangers have also shown compassion and kindness to them in their time of deep grief.
“The support we have had has been amazing,” she added.
“We have had a lot of support from the DICE community, which was Jaidyn’s youth club. But then we have also had support from strangers. At the roadside, where there had been flower laid for Jaidyn, a stranger came down and said he’d drove past the scene a few times.
“He came back down and left flowers. He said it was just something he wanted to do because of what had happened, and how terrible it was. He just wanted to show his support.
“There have been lots of moments like that, that have really supported us as a family. Jaidyn was a great girl, and she was always smiling.”
The vigil in memory of Jaidyn will take place on August 25 at 7:30pm. Those wishing to attend have been advised that the meeting point is at Owenroe Drive, Clandeboye Road, in Bangor. There will then be a memory walk to the West Circular Road junction, where attendees will light candles.
A three-minute silence will then take place, in honour of every life lost on our roads.
Jaidyn’s family added: “We are inviting every family across Northern Ireland who has lost a loved one to a road traffic accident, to please join us in honour your loved one.
“Bring a photograph of your loved one. Hold it high to show that they are not a statistic. They matter. Our lives changed forever on the 8th of July. Our beautiful Jaidyn was killed in a road traffic accident.
“Help us honour our loved ones. Let us unite and be their voice.”
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