A GROUP of friends have come together to bring a charity family fun day to Goldhanger in memory of a friend who passed away.

To mark the ten year anniversary of their daughter and life-long friend’s passing, Nicola’s parents and friends are organising a family fun day at the Gardeners’ Farm on Maldon Road in Goldhanger.

The event will include archery, a bouncy castle, dog agility courses and a show, donkey and bungee jump rides, a visit from some fire engines plus many different stalls and refreshments, all to raise money for the Epilepsy Society Charity.

As well as parents Roy and Karen Bassey, organisers include Paul Schofield, Ria Schofield, Aimee Rycraft, Sue Rycraft, Sam Harrington, Carly Marie Wright, and Ray and Pam Hailey.

Nicola Bassey, 21, had suffered from epilepsy as a child, and sadly passed away following a seizure in her West Mersea home in August 2006.

She left behind her then 13-month-old daughter Ellie, who has since been raised by Nicola’s parents Karen and Roy, from Tiptree.

Aimee Rycraft, who was a close friend of Nicola’s, said the event has grown to a huge size following months of planning.

She said: “This year marked the ten year anniversary of Nicola’s death, and we thought to honour her memory we wanted to put on a happy, community event.

“Nicola was a very fun, lovely and bubbly character, and would have loved to have seen something like this put on for charity.”

Local businesses had got involved also, with Tesco and Morrisons in Maldon providing much of the food on the day.

Aimee added: “It’s grown bigger and bigger in the last few months and it’s been wonderful to have so much support from local people and businesses. We as friends are quite spread out now, it’s been great to get together and organise something as a group.

“We have about 200 people saying they’ll come along, and we’re hoping to get a thousand. It’s such a worthwhile cause and will mean the world to us and Nicola’s family.”

The family fun day takes place on Sunday September 4 from midday until 4pm. Stalls are still available for businesses to book for the day at £20 each. Call 07784359656.