The nephew of a Grenfell Tower victim is channelling his grief into a Christmas campaign to help local children.
Denis Murphy, 56, died in his home on the 14th floor of the high-rise when flames took hold of the building.
His nephew, Stevan Racz, spent days putting up ‘missing’ posters in the area around the tower and waiting in hope for news that Denis had escaped.
It took nearly three months before Denis’ body was formally identified by police.
During that time, dad-of-two Stevan bonded with other relatives and survivors, eventually handing out bags of toys to affected youngsters who had been left with nothing after fleeing for their lives.
As Christmas approaches, Stevan, is now fundraising in the hope of handing out a toy to as many children from around Grenfell as possible.
He said: “That fire didn’t just consume a tower block, leaving 71 dead and many more injured, it traumatised an entire community - and at the heart of that community are children.
“We don’t just mean those who lived in the Tower. We are talking about children affected by a tragedy on their doorstep. Children who saw and heard things no child should ever witness.
“Children who live with the aftermath of that tragedy every single day – because they live in the shadow of Grenfell Tower.
“It looms over their world – a constant reminder of the familiar faces that are gone forever, the empty desks in their classrooms, the children missing from football or dance class, from the park or from playgroup.
“They’ve been through so much that we just want to put a smile on some faces.
“Inspired by my uncle’s kindness, I took to volunteering as a way of handling my grief. He loved his community and if he had made it out of the tower, this is the type of thing he would do.”
Stevan, 36, is working with local mothers’ group ‘We Can Cry’ as they look to hold a present giving day in late December.
He added: “Thankfully for my family, my uncle was identified in September and we laid him to rest in October.
“Although we have some form of closure to move on, the pain and sorrow my family feels will live on for many, many years as it will for others.”
Earlier this month, police said the final death toll from June’s tragedy was 71 and detectives believe they have now identified all the victims.
The search operation through all flats of the blackened tower is due to be completed by the end of the year.
To donate to Stevan’s cause, visit www.gofundme.com/christmas-for-grenfell
