KIND-HEARTED shoppers' super generosity has given the bid to build a memorial to murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hall a great leap forward.For instead of using their own share number when buying goods at local Co-op stores, customers have been using the 977 Evening Star charity number - and have raised a fantastic £3,000 for the appeal!The Evening Star's appeal to boost the fund now stands at over £15,000 and the total fund is now close to £80,000.

By Richard Cornwell

KIND-HEARTED shoppers' super generosity has given the bid to build a memorial to murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hall a great leap forward.

For instead of using their own share number when buying goods at local Co-op stores, customers have been using the 977 Evening Star charity number - and have raised a fantastic £3,000 for the appeal!

The Evening Star's appeal to boost the fund now stands at over £15,000 and the total fund is now close to £80,000.

This means the trustees behind the project can now make a bid for the National Lottery cash needed to get the project – a sports pavilion for the youngsters of Vicky's home village, Trimley St Mary – off the ground.

Vicky's parents Graham and Lorinda are thrilled with the way the fundraising has been going and the tremendous support the memorial fund has received from the public.

It has been a great comfort to them since their 17-year-old daughter vanished as she walked home with best friend Gemma Algar from a Felixstowe nightclub more than two years ago.

Vicky vanished just seconds after parting from Gemma, abducted by her killer, who later dumped her body in a ditch at Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket.

Mr Hall, of Faulkeners Way, Trimley St Mary, said the public had made a "tremendous effort" for the appeal.

"It's been just fantastic – people have been so supportive and there have been so many donations, so many fundraising events and activities," he said.

"We just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed so far for what they have done and for their wonderful efforts.

"It's great to see the fund building so well and I am sure it will provide an excellent memorial to Victoria and a facility which is desperately needed by youngsters and will be very well used."

Mr and Mrs Hall, who are trustees of the Evening Star-backed fund, received the cheque for £3,000 from Jean Lockie, vice chairman of the Ipswich and Norwich Co-op, at the Solar store in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

Mrs Lockie said the society was delighted with the sum raised and thanked the co-op members who had used the charity share number instead of their own over the Christmas shopping period.

The pavilion, which is expected to cost around £220,000, will be built on the Stennett Memorial Playing Field and be managed by the Trimley Red Devils, which runs football teams for players aged seven to 17.

It will also be used by cricketers, and for small community events and meetings.

It will feature four changing rooms, each with its own showers. Toilets, including facilities for people with a disability, first aid area, cleaner's room, kitchen, storage, and referee's changing areas.

Cheques payable to the Vicky Hall Memorial Fund can be sent to Editor's Secretary, Geraldine Thompson, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.

To publicise a fundraising event for the appeal, contact Richard Cornwell on 01394 284109 or email richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk.