Like everyone else in Salford, Walkden's Janet O'Shaughnessy was shocked and horrified by the plight of Alan Henning at the hands of ISIS last year. She wanted to do something to help and set up a GoFundMe page, with the statement...
"If Alan had one wish it would be for his family to be financially secure in the future. Every penny of this fund will go to his children. Barbara Henning, Alan's wife, has given this fundraising account her approval and support. She has said that she would like the money to go directly to her and Alan's two teenage children. Please donate, however little you can afford, it will all help. R.I.P. Alan, you were a true hero!"
Nine months on, and the fund has closed with the incredible total of £15,791.06 raised from 532 donations coming from Salford and all over the world. Without any fanfare the money has now been transferred to the trust account set up by Alan Henning's wife, Barbara for the two children, Adam and Lucy.
Locally, pupils from Walkden High School had a non uniform day and raised over £1,000, Salford City UNISON donated £100, Salford City College students collected £205...one lady even `walked on fire' to raise £112, while lots of local business owners and people from the community donated with heartfelt messages attached.
Elsewhere, an Indian restaurant in Southampton raised £780, Ribble Valley UNISON collected £50 from members, there was £50 from the villagers of Algorfa in Spain and a £1,000 donation from a taxi firm in Northampton.
"When I set it up I think I put a target of £500, so to get this much was fantastic" says Janet "I was just overwhelmed by people's generosity.
"When we first heard the news we were all hoping that Alan would make it home and then it was a bit of a shock when the news came in" she recalls "It was the next morning that I looked to see if there was anywhere I could donate and there wasn't anything set up at that point, so that's why I did it.
"I didn't even know Alan but I just wanted to do something and obviously that's how everyone else felt because of all the money that came in" she adds "I think it's shown how Alan came across in the media...He just touched everyone's hearts didn't he?"
* To read more about the donations and messages see the GoFundMe page - click here
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