Our friend Helen and her only child Lulya (12 years old) lived on the 22nd floor of Grenfell Tower when the tragic fire broke out last week.

During the chaotic evacuation from the fire, they were advised to stay in their flat after trying to flee twice. After hours of waiting and watching the whole building progressively become engulfed in flames, it became clear they were trapped in the building and help was not coming. Helen, Lulya and their neighbours covered themselves in wet towels and walked down 22 flights of stairs amidst the flames and dark smoke while stepping over lifeless bodies. When they approached the exit Helen became separated from Lulya as firefighters pulled them away from the falling debris.

Helen suffered a nervous breakdown while searching for Lulya and was only able to locate her after a few days and 4 hospital visits frantically searching for her child. Currently, Lulya is still in ICU at St. Mary's Hospital and is thankfully in stable condition.

In spite of having lost all their possessions and the emotional trauma, Helen is focused on their blessing to have been among the last people to escape the flames. Helen is mourning the lives of their friends and neighbours as she waits in ICU with her daughter.

We would like to help Helen and Lulya raise some funds to help them rebuild their lives once they leave the hospital.

Helen and her daughter are a hardworking, kind and positive family. We appreciate any donation you can make to help them in the aftermath of this tragic fire.

Friends of the family

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/18/grenfell-tower-death-toll-expected-rise-58-police-say/