GEMMA Adams' parents today backed The Evening's Star Somebody's Daughter campaign in the hope it would help vulnerable young people break free from addictions which threaten to destroy their lives.

GEMMA Adams' parents today backed The Evening's Star Somebody's Daughter campaign in the hope it would help vulnerable young people break free from addictions which threaten to destroy their lives.

Brian and Gale Adams have already raised about £10,000 through their Gemma's Gift appeal for Ipswich Children's Hospice and they are also hoping Somebody's Daughter will raise many thousands of pounds to improve support services for young people.

The couple said they were genuinely grateful for the donations made by the Suffolk community to both funds. They said while Gemma's Gift was raising money in memory of Gemma, they wanted to fully support Somebody's Daughter so that all the women would be remembered.

Mr Adams said: “Since we've launched Gemma's Gift there has been a fantastic response. We want to thank everybody who has donated.

“But our minds are also on the other families. We don't want anything to detract from that.

“So many people have said to me 'my son or my daughter have got into the wrong crowd, it could so easily have been our family'.”

Gemma, 25, a former Kesgrave High School pupil who was living in Blenheim Road in Ipswich before her death, was one of five women killed after they were taken from the streets where they worked as prostitutes.

Gemma's body was found in Belstead Brook at Hintlesham on December 2. She had gone missing on November 15.

Also killed were her friend Tania Nicol, 19, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29 and Anneli Alderton, 24.

Mr and Mrs Adams, who live in Kesgrave, said Gemma's family was taking each day at a time as they dealt with their grief but the fact they had not been able to hold a funeral made things very hard.

Mr Adams described Gemma's death as a “massive and shocking tragedy” but said the amount of support his family has received from the community, including Evening Star readers who have paid their own tributes on the Star's online book of condolences for Gemma, have helped them enormously.

He said: “It is a very difficult time.

“You might feel OK one minute and then you'll see somebody you haven't seen for a while and they'll put their arms around you and burst into tears. Everybody who knows us has been absolutely shocked by this.

“We've been greatly comforted by the messages on the Star website. The book of condolence is a wonderful thing to do. It was a great comfort.

“And the police have been absolutely superb, they've informed us of everything and they have been straight with us.”

To make a contribution to the Gemma's Gift fund visit www.justgiving.com/gemmasgift. To contribute to the Somebody's Daughter appeal see the panel on this page.

To pay your tribute to Gemma or to Anneli, Paula, Tania or Annette visit www.eveningstar.co.uk.

WEBLINK

www.eveningstar.co.uk/daughter

www.justgiving.com/gemmasgift

How you can help.

SUFFOLK'S Somebody's Daughter campaign has been launched to remember the victims of the red-light district killings.

Several thousand pounds have already been pledged to the fund, which has been launched in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council.

The proceeds will be used to help vulnerable young people in Ipswich. We are hoping the victims' families will help to identify the areas where the money would be best spent.

Special posters have been created and are now available for readers and businesses to display in their windows.

To request one, contact Star reporter Josh Warwick on 01473 324840 or e-mail josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk

Donations to the memorial fund can be made in a number of ways:

Visit www.eveningstar.co.uk and click on the Somebody's Daughter link on the homepage

Pay in person at Ipswich Borough Council's customer service centre in the Town Hall

Pay over the phone by calling 01473 433777

Send a cheque, made payable to Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund, to PO Box 772, Ipswich Borough Council, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DE