As some of you may know by now that a beloved Nottingham family has been completely upended overnight. Christine Toal passed suddenly in a house fire leaving my best friend Brittney and her younger brother Joe to pick up the pieces. This devastating loss seems unfathomable, unfair and gut wrenching after the loss of their father Joe Toal in 2019.

The fire not only took their beloved mother, but also destroyed their childhood home, leaving them without a place filled with memories and comfort. Brittney and Joe are now facing the overwhelming task of arranging a funeral for their mother while also dealing with the loss of their home and everything inside it. With no life or home insurance in place the emotional and financial burden is catastrophic.

The family we grew up with are in urgent need of support from their community. I’m sure there has been a time you have have been at a Toal BBQ, had a beer handed over to you by Christine’s hands at the Fox, a helping hand or shared laugh from Joe Sr., a hang out, a joke, rode your bikes with Brittney or Joe in the 90s. It’s our turn to show them that they are not alone. Even in this devastation their community is here.

These funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward funeral arrangements and essential home expenses as they begin to recover and rebuild their lives.

Any support you can offer-whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser-will mean the world to Brittney and Joe. Your kindness will help them honor their mother's memory and find hope in the midst of heartbreak.

Thank you for standing with them during this incredibly difficult time.