MORE than 500 hot pink corsages have been sold to people to wear at the funeral of Nadine Blake and raise thousands of pounds in her memory.
The 18-year-old, of Calshot Road, Warren Park, died earlier this month after a life-long battle with cystic fibrosis.
Her close friend Emily Carpenter came up with the idea to make the corsages in Nadine’s favourite colour to raise money for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis ward at Southampton General Hospital, where Nadine was treated.
But what started as a small idea has grown after hundreds of people requested them.
Emily said: ‘My mum Lyn came up with the idea and we asked Nadine’s mum and dad if they were happy for us to do it and they were.
‘We thought we’d make them for a few people but word spread and we had 500 orders. We had to put a deadline of Tuesday for the funeral as we just could not make them in time.
‘A groups of us, including my friend Lauren Cooper and auntie and cousin Caryn and Alice Sackman have been up until 2.30am trying to get them finished in time.’
Nadine had a huge circle of family and friends and hundreds of people are expected at her funeral at Warblington Church, at 1pm on Friday.
They have all been asked to wear at least one item of pink and Emily said the corsages are ideal.
But even people who did not know Nadine and will not be going to the funeral have asked for them so they can donate money in her memory.
Emily, a 20-year-old hairdresser, met Nadine at Park Community School.
She said: ‘Even though we knew how ill she was it still came as a shock when she passed away.
‘She was always such a fighter that in the back of our minds we thought she would make it.
‘I’ve been kept really busy with the corsages but I think when Friday comes it will really hit home. Nadine is missed so much.’
On Sunday a fundraising day held by friends at Zoom Hairdressing, in Park Parade, Leigh Park, raised an incredible £1,250 for the Adult CF ward.
Stylist Amber Tee went in on her day off to cut hair in return for donations. There was also a raffle and a cake sale attended by hundreds of people.
Emily is going to continue to make the corsages for charity after the funeral.
They cost £3 each or £5 for two. Contact her via by searching her name to find her Facebook page to place an order.
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