Sunday Mercury
WARWICKSHIRE, England — A NEW appeal has been launched to raise money to fund a 'living memorial' for the four firefighters who died in a Midland warehouse blaze.
Ashley Stephens, 20, and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, both of Alcester, together with John Averis, 27, and Ian Reid, 44, both from Stratford-upon-Avon, died battling the blaze.
All four were killed when the roof of the huge building, owned by Wealmoor Ltd, caved in.
Emma and Andrew Holman-West own the land in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire, on which the vegetable packing plant was built.
Now, the couple hope their Firefighters' Appeal will raise enough money to buy equipment to help fellow officers save lives.
They have designed an electronic Christmas card which they are asking individuals and companies to send out via e-mail, instead of sending a paper version.
Money saved on postage will be donated to the fund, which will also help the families of the victims.
Mrs Holman-West said: "We want to have a living memorial to the firemen - a piece of equipment or maybe some sniffer dogs, something that can be used to help save lives.
"Any money left over will go to the fire service's National Benevolent Fund."
The appeal has already been endorsed by many famous names, including Sir Richard Branson, Dame Helen Mirren and JK Rowling.
A separate appeal launched by Warwickshire County Council and called the Warwickshire Firefighters Families Fund, has so far raised about pounds 100,000. It will also help provide financial support to the families of the four men.
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