The Duchess of Cambridge helped a grieving grandparent of a Manchester Arena bomb victim by simply giving all his family a hug during an official visit.
The touching gesture by Kate Middleton was made to the family of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, who was killed by suicide bomber Salman Abedi on May 22, 2017, when she was just 15-years-old.
Olivia's family have since established a charity in her name, Liv's Trust, which has already supported about 200 young people under-25s who love music and dance, just as Olivia did.
Olivia's paternal grandparents Steve and Sharon Goodman launched Liv's Trust six months later and were recently bowled over by the compassion shown by the Royal couple, who opened a new memorial garden to the Manchester bombing in the city last week.
Olivia’s grandfather 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.
“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.”
William and Kate showed their support when they opened the Glade of Light memorial to the 22 bomb victims last week, according to Mirror Online.
They were pictured wearing the Trust’s bright pink £1.50 wristbands, with the motto, We Choose Love.
Steve added: “Kate said it was a marvellous thing we are doing and to make sure that we take time for ourselves.”
Retired electrician Steve had met Prince William previously, on the first anniversary of the attack.
He 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.”
Olivia, from Bury, Greater Manchester, who was known to her friends as Liv, had gone to the Ariana Grande concert at the Arena with her school pal Adam Lawler, also then 15.
She was killed when Abedi, who was just five metres away, detonated his suicide device. Adam was injured but survived.
The Trust that bears her name helps families in need and has provided dance shoes, clothing, helped with travel costs for auditions and paid for books and equipment for performing arts students.
Recently it helped pay for dance lessons for a nine year old boy who had arrived in the UK from war-torn Ukraine.
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.”
Olivia’s parents split when she was young and she lived with her mum Charlotte Hodgson but also spent two nights a week with her dad, Andrew Hardy, Sharon and Steve’s son.
The couple’s home is filled with memories of Olivia. Cushions are covered with her photos and clutching one close to his chest, Steve, 66, said: “It is like having a cuddle from her.”
After the attack the couple were both diagnosed with PTSD.
Steve said: “Some days I’m alright and I can speak normally and other times I can just freeze and I can’t remember someone’s name that I am talking to.
“We have days when Sharon gets very low and depressed and I don’t know how to help or what to do.”
Sunday is the fifth anniversary of the bombing, which Steve and Sharon will be marking by hosting performances by some of the young people the charity has helped.
For more information see: https://www.livstrust.org.uk/.
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