Aaron Webb will always be remembered as a kind, happy and gentle young man, who would have given you the clothes off his back.
The 12-year-old, died in a fatal crash just moments from his grandmother's home outside Glenavy on December 10, 2021. He had just turned 12, days before the crash involving a van and Aaron, who was a pedestrian.
Aaron, who was an only child, was transported to hospital from the scene but, sadly, was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. In his memory, and in a style which he would have loved, his family are hosting a fun day this weekend to bring people together and to raise vital funds for a local charity who were a lifeline to them in the days, weeks and months after his his passing.
READ MORE: Tributes paid to Ballymena man Ciaran McIlwaine after tragic death
Speaking to Belfast Live, Laura Webb spoke of her pride for her son, who was highly thought of among his friends, family circle and community.
"Aaron was just very caring and very kind. That is why we decided to organise a family fun day, because it is something that he would have been doing.
"This is all being done in memory and for him. Aaron would have given you anything, if he thought you needed it, you would get it from him, and that was it.
"His school have told us how kind he was. We have received so many letters from people, who wanted to tell us about the effect that he has had on their children. Aaron was all about positivity, so we want to to do this positive event in his name.
"Aaron's school, where he started in the September, are putting up a friendship bench in his name, and his primary school have have awarded the "Aaron Webb Friendship cup" to a p7 pupil so he will be remembered by his schools for years to come. This is a lovely gesture. At the funeral, it was unbelievable, his friends from primary school came and done a guard of honour and the children from the secondary school came to show their respects to their friend.
"There are days when we go up to his graveside, and there is children from Lisburn that went to school with him, at the grave. They actually make their own way out to see his grave."
The family fun day will take place on Saturday, July 30 from 11am to 3pm in Sally Gardens, Dunmurry. All proceeds will go directly to Life After, a Northern Ireland charity delivering support services to family and friends of those who have lost their lives through road traffic collisions. Life After also has a remit to raise and spread awareness of road safety and driver responsibility.
"We have an amazing raffle with around 100 prizes, tombolla, a DJ, barbecue, cake stalls, plant stalls," Laura added.
"There's just so much. Lots for the kids too, there is face painting and other fun events planned. It is in Sally Gardens this Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
"There are no words to thank people who have supported our family since Aaron's death. We just can't thank them enough for everything they have done. People from all over, have been extremely supportive.
"We were given the details of Life After by the family liaison officer in the police and they have been so helpful to our family. They have been amazing.
"My sister was killed in a road traffic collision eighteen years ago so we know first hand, that there was absolutely no support back then. We know what it was like and to have something like Life After is a lifeline.
"We've met them face-to-face, when they travelled from Derry to Lisburn twice. They are always in contact and only at the end of the phone if we ever need them. The day that the police done a reconstruction of the accident, Life After came down and sat with me in the house while it was happening.
"The accident happened outside my mum's house, and then police sat with mum, and Debbie from Life After came all the way from Derry for 9am and sat with me until it was over. We just want to give back to them."
The event will take place from 11am to 3pm at Sally Gardens Lane, Bell Steele Road, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0UJ. Anyone wishing to enter the raffle, or to donate to Life After, can do so by contacting Laura on Facebook.
For more information on Life After, and the support and services they offer, please follow this link.
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