Claire Squires' Tragic Death Draws £600,000 in Donations and Memoriam

After the tragic death of Claire Squires during the 2012 London Marathon, people from all across the country have donated above £600,000 to her charity, through her fund-raising page on justgiving.com. Squires' family and friends have paid to her, calling her "an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person".

There were as many as 55,635 donations on her fundraising page, which overwhelmed her family as they struggled to find words to express their gratitude for the support and help they received.

Squires' grieving parents, Paul and Cilla, and a memeber of the Samaritans have thanked people for all their support and generosity.

"On behalf of Claire's family and all those who knew and loved her, we would like to say thank you so much for everyone's support," they said, according to the Guardian. Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the Samaritans, said both she and the organisation had been overwhelmed by the response.

"She was loved by so many and is dearly missed. We would like to say thank you so much for everyone's support. Claire would be so happy and overwhelmed with the incredible support that has been offered by thousands of people from all over the world," another report, in the Daily Mail, quoted them as saying.

Squires, 30, who worked as a hairdresser in North Kilworth, collapsed during the last phase of the 42km run over the weekend. She was raising money for the Samaritans in memory of Grant (her brother), who died after a drug overdose at the age of 25.

"We are truly humbled by the reaction from the public following Claire's tragic death, and are overwhelmed by the support they have shown. At an appropriate time, we will be speaking to Claire's family about what they feel she would have liked these donations to fund," the Guardian reported Johnstone as saying.

Meanwhile, Simon Van Herrewege (Squires' boyfriend of two-and-a-half years) said he would always remember her as "the most incredible girl".

"She was happy-go-lucky and so driven. She had a heart of gold. I love her more than words can say and she will be dearly missed," the Daily Mail quoted Van Herrewege as saying.

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