The mothers of three of the boys who died in the Derry Hill crash tragedy are organising a sponsored walk to raise funds for a memorial park in Calne.

They tend the makeshift shrine in the town’s Pocket Park each day, with people still leaving fresh flowers for the boys who lost their lives in the accident last August.

The council has given the go ahead for a permanent garden of remembrance in Castlefields Park.

Now the mothers of the boys are raising cash to pay for it, but stress that the garden is for everyone who has lost someone.

Amanda Parke lost her 19 year old son Matthew.

He was one of four young men who died in the same car after it left the A4 and ploughed into a house before bursting into flames.

“The walk will be on May 22,” she said. “That is the day after Matthew’s birthday.”

She, along with Kerry Whiston, Ryan’s mother and Tessa Owen, Corey’s mother will be starting the 10 mile walk from the shrine in Pocket Park.

“We have been so overwhelmed with support for this,” she added. “We were thinking maybe 20 or so people would take part, but we’ve had more than 100 people saying they want to come along.

“Tesco - where some of the boys worked - has also got involved and are providing goodie bags of drinks, chocolate and crisps for the walkers. And they are going to have a balloon arch in the store with fund raising buckets too.”

They hope to raise up to £10k for the park, which they would like to be ready for the anniversary of the tragedy on August 16. They have set up a just giving fund raising page called the Official Derry Hill crash page after a fake page was set up just after the accident.

So far it has raised more than £7k.

The walking route will set off from Calne’s Pocket Park and head to Bowood for a circuit before heading back again.

“We would like people to register at the park between 10 and 12 so we can give people times and spread everyone out,” said Amanda.

“People have been incredibly generous. I have got £1,200 pledged in sponsor money already.

The site survey for the memorial park area has now been completed, and once finished it will include sweeping pathways and a spherical sun dial on a plinth in memory to the boys.

“This is intended to be an inclusive place,” added Amanda. “There is a dedicated flower bed for others who have also lost people to plant flowers.”

The sponsored walk is the first in a run of what Amanda terms ‘celebration of life’ event of the boys lives. These include a party for friends and family at Wellington Barn and a music festival organised by bands in the town in October at Bremhill Social Club in memory of the boys.

“Anything that we raise over the amount for the garden will be donated back to local charities in the names of the boys as another legacy.

"It would be just so nice to give back to the town that has given us so much support and kindness.”