Claire Squires Death: Just Giving Donations For London Marathon Runner Rocket To £600,000

Claire Squires Donations Rocket Past £600,000 Mark

Claire Squires Just Giving page shows that more than 50,000 donations have now been made to the Samaritans, the chosen charity of the woman who died during the London Marathon. The money she has raised now totals over £600,000.

Claire Squires, 30, was described as "an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person" as her family paid tribute to her yesterday.

She collapsed in Birdcage Walk, near St James's Park, on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course on Sunday.

Miss Squires was taking part in the event to raise money for the Samaritans because her mother Cilla has volunteered with the organisation for more than 20 years. Her brother Grant died of a drugs overdose in 2001, aged 25, suffering from depression after a car accident killed his girlfriend.

Donations on Miss Squires' page on the JustGiving website soared as news of her death spread, increasing the total from just £500 on Sunday.

Monday saw the largest number of donations received in a single day on the website, with more than 10,000 people donating together at any given time, the group said.

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Miss Squires' family said in a statement: "On behalf of Claire's family and all those who knew and loved her - we would like to say thank you so much for everyone's support.

"Claire would be so happy and overwhelmed with the incredible support that has been offered by thousands of people from all over the world.

"Her family appreciate the kind messages posted online very much.

"Words cannot explain what an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person she was. She was loved by so many and is dearly missed by all of us.

"For Claire and the Samaritans, please keep the donations coming.

"Don't stop giving, just like her. It's what she would have wanted."

Anne-Marie Huby, managing director of JustGiving, said: "The response to Claire Squires' tragic death on Sunday has been extraordinary. Out of respect for Claire's memory, we will be donating our fees back to the Samaritans."

Samaritans' chief executive Catherine Johnstone said the charity had been "overwhelmed" by the donations and would be speaking to Miss Squires' family about how the money should be used.

Claire Squires was described as "an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person"

More than £600,000 has been donated to her JustGiving fundraising page

The charity's annual turnover from individual donations typically totals around £3.8 million a year, a spokesman said.

Overall, with donations from companies and trust funds, its turnover is some £10m each year.

Friends paying tribute to Miss Squires, a hairdresser from North Kilworth, Leicestershire, have described her as an "inspiration" and "the most amazing person in the world".

Victoria Hauser said: "Claire was larger than life, fun-loving, bubbly, happy, cheerful, kind, giving, thoughtful. She was just the most amazing person in the world - the best friend I have ever had.

"She could never be replaced and dozens of people would feel like that - it's not just me. Once Claire was a friend, she was a friend for life and a very, very good friend."

Tests to establish why Miss Squires collapsed are expected to take place in the coming days.

She died with the finishing line only one bend away, after 25 miles of the marathon.

Miss Squires is the 11th participant to die since the event began in 1981.

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