A GRIEVING mum has launched a mammoth fundraising challenge to mark what would have been her daughter’s 25th birthday.

Sian Kendrick, from Shotton, is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for three disabled children in memory of her own daughter Jade who died five years ago on Christmas Day, aged just 19.

Sian, 42, said: “Since Jade died I have done fundraising every year for Hope House, but this year she would have been 25 so all the family wanted to get together to celebrate her life and hold a charity night in her memory.”

Sian will donate the proceeds to Rebecca Thomson, from Shotton, Freya Fawcett, of Connah’s Quay and Millie Williams, from Connah’s Quay, who all suffer from severe disabilities.

Rebecca, 18, has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She has undergone numerous operations to insert rods into her back and her family are hoping to use the donation to take her on holiday.

Freya, three, suffers from downs syndrome. Her family intend to use the money to buy her much need interactive toys to encourage her development.

Millie, four, suffers from a rare brain disorder known as lissencephaly. Her family are hoping to buy a bike with a specially adapted wheelchair attached, which will give her more freedom.

Doctors predicted that Jade would not live past her first birthday after developing severe disabilities as a result of a collapsed lung when she was just ten-weeks-old.

She suffered irreversible brain damage and had epilepsy and heart failure.

Sian, who has two other children Chad, 17, and Kasha, 15, says she’s still finding it difficult to come to terms with her daughter’s death.

“It’s very hard,” she said.

“Especially when you have looked after someone like that for so long and then they are just gone.

“I have got two other children and I have to keep going for them.”

Sian has organised a charity night at the British Legion in Shotton on October 16, including a disco, entertainment and a Shotton’s Got Talent Competition.

Jade’s father Philip Shelbourne is also organising a sponsored bike ride from Shotton to Rhyl and back again also on October 16.

Tickets for the charity night cost £7 and entrance for the bike ride costs £5.

For further information call Sian on 01244 814552.