A HEARTBROKEN mother is hoping to raise £1,000 for charity with a spectacular family fun day in memory of her son.

Lesley Bide is organising the event following the sudden death of her son Darren Pine, who passed away in April this year aged 39 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Darren, who lived in Watchet, was enjoying a day out with his partner and their three children aged five, three and 18 months at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park when he suddenly collapsed in the toilets.

He was taken to hospital in Barnstaple where he was put into induced coma having suffered an aneurysm, and was then taken for treatment Plymouth - but sadly there was nothing they could do to save him.

Darren, a painter and decorator by trade, also had three children from a previous marriage.
There was no indication of illness before his collapse.

Mum Lesley said: “He had the biggest heart and was the sort of man who would do anything for anybody. 

“He loved his children and was a dedicated family man.”

She has organised a family fun day filled with activities taking place on The Esplanade in Watchet on Saturday, September 8 which will raise money for Headway and raise awareness of organ donation.

She is hoping the event, which will run between 10am and 6pm, will raise £1,000 for the charity.

“Darren was a huge Buddy Holly fan, so the main event will be a mass guitar strum-along to some of his biggest hits including Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day and Heartbeat,” Lesley said.

There will also be a workshop in the day so youngsters can make their own shaker and guitars instruments and join in.

The event will also include street artists such as a unicyclist and stilt walkers, storytelling, facepainting, poetry and dancing and a short speech from the chief executive of Headway, Hilary Dicks.

“It was supposed to be a small event but everybody wanted to help out,” Lesley said.