The Caitlan Emily Memorial Fund 

Following the tragic and unexpected loss of their daughter Caitlan Emily on Christmas Day 2006 aged 21 months, Jamie and Amanda Walton have set up The Caitlan Emily Memorial Fund and to date have raised over £19,000 in her honour.

In September 2007, the Mullen and Walton family organised a Hadrian’s Wall walk in Caitlan’s memory, walking a total distance of 84 miles over 7 days from Segedenum Roman Fort at Wallsend-on-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway on the West coast.

Here Amanda talks about her motivation for supporting FSID in her own words:

“Last year was going to be such a special Christmas for us because the one before that Caitlan had just been a little baby. Now Christmas will not be the same again and it was the worst thing you could ever imagine experiencing. What happened with Caitlan will never leave us but doing this walk and fundraising will help us focus on something positive.”

Many of the family’s friends and colleagues have also supported The Caitlan Emily Memorial Fund. On March 16th 2007, Di and Jim’s Nursery in Prudhoe, Northumberland, which Caitlan used to attend, held a fun day on what would have been Caitlan’s 2nd birthday.

A group of fun runners in Ireland known as the Kellogg Crunchers, colleagues of Caitlan’s granddad Andy Mullen, took part in a 10K run and raised a massive £6,747.82. Amanda’s cousin Faye and her friends from Bridgewater School in Worsley raised £303.45 eating baked beans with chopsticks. P. C Paul Jackson (who is now running the London Marathon in aid of FSID) and colleagues from blue watch at Bamfurlong Police Station in Wigan raised £601.50 on a sponsored run and Caitlan’s auntie, Joan Dunn, raised £500.00 doing a fun run in Manchester.  

These are just some of the people who have donated or raised money for Caitlan’s memorial fund - there are many more.  Amanda and Jamie would like to thank everyone for their support after the loss of Caitlan. She was a truly loved baby, she will never be forgotten. Amanda would especially like to thank her parents Andrew & Maureen Mullen:

“Mum and Dad, thank you both for supporting Jamie and I through the worst time in our lives. Your endless love will always be appreciated. I'm so sorry you lost your precious granddaughter – but rest assured we will all have our cuddle again some day. Love you so much. x”

FSID would like to thank Jamie and Amanda for all their wonderful fundraising efforts and support, as well as all their friends, family and colleagues who have supported the Caitlan Emily Memorial Fund.

Pictured Walkers: Andrew Mullen, Maureen Mullen, Darren Mullen, Christopher Mullen, Claire Parker, Jamie Walton, Amanda Walton, Carrie Walton, Gordon Hoggins and Kieran O'Callaghan, Bob the Airedale Terrier and Ozzy the Welsh Terrier.

To donate to the fund please visit www.justgiving.com/caitlanemilymemorialfund

If you would like to take part in a sponsored event for FSID or organise your own call us on 020 7222 8003 or email fundraising@fsid.org.uk