Sophie Harrison, who died in a car crash in Rhiems Way, Canterbury, in April 2009, at the age of 18.

This Saturday (March 6) would
have been popular Faversham teenager Sophie Harrison’s 19th
birthday and her family will mark the occasion at a place very
close to her heart.

Parents Martyn and Christine
Harrison and Sophie’s brother Luke, of Beech Close, Faversham, will
dedicate a beautiful 7ft 6in English oak bench to Sophie at the
Faversham Community Gymnastics and Activity Centre in Whitstable
Road, where she spent many happy hours as a keen gymnast and
coach.

Sophie, a Queen Elizabeth Grammar
School student, died in a crash in Canterbury in April last
year.

The bench was made by neighbour and
family friend Thomas Thornley, a cabinet maker by trade, after a
fundraising campaign by friends and family.

Donations flooded in after 500
wristbands were produced in memory of Sophie.

Mrs Harrison said: “We really want
to thank our family, friends and local people for their support and
generosity.

“Special thanks must go to Alison Reynolds at the gym club
and Sophie’s best friend Megan Harlow for distributing wristbands
and collecting donations along with Sophie’s friend Lauren Diamond
for raising money by singing at The Elephant pub and, most
importantly, Thomas Thornley for his time and dedication in
producing a unique and beautiful memorial bench.”

The money left over from the
fundraising effort will be donated to RoadPeace, a national charity
for road crash victims which supports those who are bereaved or
injured.

Mr Harrison said: “RoadPeace has
really supported us.”

For information on the help offered by RoadPeace, log on to www.roadpeace.org or call 0845 4500355.

For information about the Faversham Community Gymnastics and Activity Centre, log on to www.favershamgym.freeserve.co.uk or call 01795 532132.