Supporters gather to help family

THE streets of Ipswich were awash with people wearing green as walkers braved the weather to attend the Walk for My Family.

Daughters of deceased mother Alexis Crawley – Zoe Crawley (left), 2, and Elizabeth Crawley, 3, – with their father Troy Johnson and grandmother Janice Johnson on a fundraising walk with supporters and event organiser Kelly Boxell (centre). Picture: David Nielsen

THE streets of Ipswich were awash with people wearing green on Saturday as walkers braved the weather to attend the Walk for My Family.

While the numbers were down, with rain keeping some away, nearly 30 people turned up in the storm to walk from inside Queens Park to Riverlink to help raise money for the family of three young girls.

Annabel Crawley was born on January 1, despite not being due until February 23, and her mother Alexis tragically died of a heart attack while giving birth.

She left behind two other daughters, three-year-old Elizabeth and two-year-old Zoe, who are being cared for by their grandmother Janice Johnson.

The walk was organised by Raceview resident Kelly Boxell, who said she knew she had to help when she heard about the tragedy earlier in the year.

Ms Johnson and the children's father, Troy Johnson, walked at the front of the pack, along with Elizabeth, Zoe and other members of the family.

The group of walkers, with many dressed in green for the occasion, started from Queen's Park, went down Brisbane and East Sts, and across the David Trumpy Bridge to Riverlink, where more people were waiting.

While baby Annabel Crawley remains in hospital, the family is hoping she will be able to make her way home for the first time in the next week.

Mrs Boxell said she had already delivered a truckload of goods to the children's Woodford home, and had filled her car with baby supplies to help the family as much as she could.

Mrs Boxell said she and the group had received a huge amount of support to help the Crawleys.

"We've just had so much help from people," she said.

"We've even had people from the USA donating.

"It's just been great."

The walkers were collecting donations along the way to help the family.

Mrs Boxell said she was hoping for more people to make the walk

"We were hoping for up to 60 people but with the weather, it's understandable people couldn't make it," she said.

"It's a great turnout anyway."

Donations can still be made to help the family, with Mrs Boxell setting up a bank account for the cause.

For information on the Walk for My Family cause or to donate, call Mrs Boxell 0413 362 875.

Originally published as Supporters gather to help family