Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum has shared the special way she will be celebrating her daughter's 10th birthday.
Cheryl Korbel should be spending this Tuesday watching her daughter excitedly ripping open her presents surrounded by their family. But after little Olivia's life was stolen away in a horrific shooting which shocked the nation, Cheryl is determined that her daughter be remembered for the beautiful, bright light she was.
In an effort to keep her little girl's memory alive in Merseyside and across the world, Cheryl has today called for help to build a memorial park in her name.
Speaking to the Mirror about the project, Cheryl said: “Liv will never be forgotten but this garden is about keeping her memory alive. When people see her name we want them to remember our beautiful and sassy, Liv.
“On her 9th birthday I decorated the living room because she wanted a party. I got balloons and a big light up number 9. Every birthday was a big deal, she always wanted a party, she always loved being the centre of attention.
Fighting back tears, she added: “I’d have probably gone and done the same for her 10th birthday because as much as each birthday was important and she wanted to celebrate, this year she was getting to double digits.”
The family will celebrate Olivia's life at a private party, but will also decorate a tree on the patch of land they hope to transform into Olivia’s memorial garden in Dovecot. Just 10 doors up is the house they used to call home - where the nine-year-old was killed by a bullet intended for a convicted drug dealer.
Also on the site is a near-derelict Dovecot labour club, where the CCTV cameras helped to catch Olivia's killer with vital video evidence. Now Cheryl wants the project to turn it into a community centre to get youngsters off the streets and away from the criminal gangs in the area.
A band of residents including Cheryl, and Olivia’s aunts Kerrieann and Kim, have formed the Kingsheath and District Veterans Association (KADVA) a community to bring their dream for Olivia's park to fruition. But they estimate it will cost in the region of £300,000 to renovate the dilapidated club and build Olivia’s park.
Labour MP, Ian Byrne, who sits on the KADVA board, believes the project in Olivia’s name could help the community break free from the plague of crime. He said: “This area is on its knees there is nothing there everything has been destroyed over the last 12 years by cuts and pulling things out
“This is putting something back, it’s something for the people but it means far more than that. The people built this club with their own hands, but it's falling down and needs so much work.
"They want to do it up and make sure it has facilities like a youth club so there is something for the people of this area again. It’s a beautiful project, it’s completely from the community, the builders are chomping at the bit to get it moving but we just need the funds.
“It’s about five minutes from Olivia’s old house, it’s a plot of grass but it’s just wasteland. They have a vision to turn it into something really special. With what happened to Olivia they were dealt a grievous blow but to take such a tragedy and turn it into a positive is a beautiful thing.”
Speaking of the plans, Cheryl said: “I know that she would be made up with it, and if it wasn't because of this but was something else she would have loved it.”
Olivia was killed by Thomas Cashman, 34, as he embarked on a relentless pursuit to kill Joseph Nee, 36, on August 22 last year. Cheryl and her two other children, Ryan, 23, and Chloe, 19, had to leave their home and move elsewhere following the horrific incident last August.
But they still come back to see “Liv’s house”, a miniature home built in the cemetery where she was laid to rest with her comfort bear, Pearl. Cheryl said: “I tell her what we have been up to, I tell her how Ryan and Chloe are getting on, I’ve even told her about the plans of the garden, I’ve showed her them on my phone."
But at their new home the family have found their pain too unbearable to start unboxing Olivia’s room. And for Cheryl, the innate routine of getting up to do Olivia’s school run is still engrained in her bodyclock.
Cheryl said: “I can’t bring myself to open her stuff yet, it’s all there in boxes in my room. I’ve got the memory bear made from her pyjamas, I’ve got a jewellery box and a snowglobe, there’s all little trinkets round the house.
“I still get up at 7.30 the same time I would have for the school run. I’ve got the same routine every morning. For a while I was struggling to eat breakfast but I realised that if I made myself ill I wouldn’t be here for Ryan and Chloe.
“Regardless of how old they are, they’re still my babies.”
But in taking things day by day, the family have also been served little reminders of Olivia's cheeky spirit by finding seemingly unremarkable items. “Even her pencil case when I came across it I found all my pens. I said no wonder I couldn't find my pens. She's had them all.”
And by talking about her everyday, they are living together in their happy memories of Olivia. Asked how she copes returning to Dovecot, 10 months on from Olivia's passing, Cheryl believes it is keeping her daughter's name alive that keeps her strong.
Cheryl said: “Obviously my family are down here, my two best friends, and of course I come down to see the baby, I can’t say it’s easy, it's really hard. I’ve been brought up here all my life. My kids were brought up here.
“It's my roots I can’t forget where I have come from, doing the garden is keeping her memory alive.”
HOW TO DONATE
Scan the QR Code here with your phone or tablet camera to go to Olivia's memorial park fundraiser OR Send your cheques to Daily Mirror, PO Box 4010 with the following details Name: Kingsheath and District Veteran's Association Sort code: 53-70-21 Account number: 75230771
Or click here to donate online.
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
READ NEXT:
Met Office issues 18 hour thunderstorm warning for Merseyside
Inside Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse as you've never seen before
