On Wednesday, January 15, all of those who loved Blaire Stocker woke up to the worst possible news. He had passed away suddenly in his sleep, aged 30.

I have started this fundraiser as a friend of Blaire and his family to provide some vital relief and help for his father Bernard at this incredibly sad time for us all, with the aim that any money generously donated will go towards the funeral costs to give Blaire the send off he deserved. As you can imagine, with his passing being unexpected, at a time where his family should be grieving, they are trying to work out how to cover the costs of his funeral, and this is where I hope you can help me to help them.

Blaire wasn’t your ordinary person. In fact, to those who knew him, he was extraordinary. Born with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder, life was never easy for him, but his 30 years on this earth, with his devoted father by his side, Blaire provided the brightest of lights for all of us who were privileged to know him. Any room he was in was lit up with his charm, humour and love of the simplest things – particularly music.

Cherished memories such as him taking to the stage to get the room dancing to Amarillo by Tony Christie at a family gathering now belong as vitally important video clips to help further to remember someone who was genuinely unforgettable.

I know that there are a lot of donations for similar causes but I hope you can help me to help a devastated family whose lives have a big Blaire shaped hole in it – with every pound raised helping to relieve the burden placed on them by his unexpected departure from this world into the next.

Thank you.