A campaign to raise £500,000 in memory of Abi Godfrey, a director of Grant Thornton’s North West corporate finance business who died at the age of 34, has topped £70,000.
A total of 363 supporters have so far pledged £73,505, which will be used to support her baby son, Leo, and her family.
Abi died in February just two weeks after giving birth to her first baby, Leo.
It’s hoped the total will be given a significant boost next Thursday (May 28th) when colleagues at Grant Thornton will join friends and members of Abi’s family in taking part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in her memory.
One of those getting involved will be her close friend Keely Hallworth, who wrote on LinkedIn: “Some of you will know how difficult the last few months have been following the death of my friend Abi, aged 34, who died just two weeks after giving birth to her first baby, Leo.
“Last weekend, I became Leo’s godmother on a day when we should have been celebrating Abi’s birthday.
“I am sharing this because, on Thursday May 28th, I will be taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. I am walking in Abi’s memory and to raise funds for Leo’s future.
“I will be walking with Abi’s family, friends and colleagues. I will also be taking on the 24 miles with a torn quad muscle I picked up while running, so it really will be a challenge.
“I’ll be held together by sports tape, painkillers, determination and the knowledge that I am doing the right thing for my friend and my godson.
“I would be incredibly grateful for any donation, big or small, to help honour a wonderful person. Thank you very much for your support.”
Peter Terry, a partner at Grant Thornton UK and practice lead in the North West, said previously: “As a team, we completed this challenge together before Abi joined us, and she always said how much she would love for us to do it again so that she could be part of it. This time, we are doing it for her.
“We will be walking in Abi’s memory whilst raising funds for baby Leo, to support him and his family during an incredibly difficult time.”
Abi, who led the company’s national pharma and life sciences sector, joined Grant Thornton in 2024 after 11 years at Deloitte.
She attended Westholme School, where former teacher Debbie Northin remembered her as ‘a particularly talented and sunny-natured girl’ and a ‘bundle of energy and fun’.
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