A charity set up by the family of a 15-year-old girl killed in the Manchester Arena bombing has won the royal seal of approval. William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have worn wristbands created by Liv's Trust set up in memory of Olivia Campbell-Hardy.
Olivia, from Bury, was one of the 22 innocent people murdered in the atrocity on May 22, 2017. Her paternal grandparents, Steve and Sharon Goodman, set up the trust to help youngsters like Olivia who love music and dance.
The royal couple were pictured wearing the bright pink wristbands produced by the trust, which feature the 'We Choose Love' motto, the Mirror reported. They were handed them at the recent opening of the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester city centre. Steve, 66, said: "We met them at the official opening. When it came to shaking hands I said ‘I don’t really do that, can I have a hug?’ And Kate hugged all of us.
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"When William came over I had the wristbands in my pocket and I gave him one and Kate got one. They just said, ‘Thank you’ and put them straight on."
He added: "Kate said it was a marvellous thing we are doing and to make sure that we take time for ourselves.” Steve, who had met Prince William previously, said of the Duke of Cambridge said: "He knew all about Olivia.
"He told us that he would like to think that his mother and Olivia had been taken too young to be taken to a better place where they were needed, and that helped him to cope. It was a very nice thing to share and to help us with our grief.
"Last week he asked us how it was going, he was interested in the charity and us.” The trust provides support for young people dreaming of becoming involved in performing arts, and has provided dance shoes, clothing and assisted with travel costs, books and equipment.
Steve said: "Olivia wanted to be a music or a dance teacher. So this was the nearest we could do to follow her dream." Explaining the Trust’s motto, “We Choose Love”, Sharon said: “It just seemed so right. She was a 15 year old child who loved life.
"We don’t want people hating. Olivia was all inclusive. She hated bullying. She hated racism. She thought of everybody."
