'I think about Bobby every day but keeping his memory alive keeps me going'
A family have described feeling 'crucified' by grief as they mark another heartbreaking anniversary of the death of their much-loved son. Bobby Colleran was just six years old when he was hit by a van on his way home from school and later died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. It was his mum's birthday.
Today marks 10 years since little Bobby died, and his family want the world to know his memory 'remains as strong as ever in our hearts'. However, with each passing year, the trauma and pain of his loss remains as raw as ever. Mum Joanne said: "This year, it's been awful. The pain has crucified us.
"It's just felt so much harder in the run-up to today - it's been really hard for me, his dad and his brothers, it's been horrible.
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"I think about Bobby the minute I wake up. I say goodnight to him and I have done every night since he's not been here. I don't ever not think about him, but this year has just been like a stab in the heart."
After Bobby's death, Joanne founded the Bobby Colleran Trust and has worked tirelessly to bring essential road safety awareness campaigns to the attention of Merseyside. The trust's 'Slow Down For Bobby' and 'Take Care For Bobby' campaigns are known across Merseyside and have helped save the lives of countless children.
More recently, the Bobby Colleran Trust has launched a bereavement support service which works with children to better understand loss and grief and to develop coping strategies to manage anxieties, fears and sadness. They are feelings Joanne and her family are all too familiar with, she added: "I've had pains in my chest for the last week because I've been trying to swallow it down because I don't want to upset my other boy so I'm trying to keep okay for them, but sometimes I felt like I can't even breathe.
"But we have a lovely family who are very supportive and keeping Bobby's memory alive keeps me going."
Due to the ongoing importance of the trust's work, the charity have recently secured funding to expand their digital accessibility and will soon release an animated road safety campaign video to be distributed to every school the Liverpool city region and beyond.
Reflecting on Bobby's legacy and the trust's work to improve road safety, Joanne said: "Bobby's charity has just grown so much and we support so many children. We've got loads of different things going on with the road safety campaigns and getting more and more people accessing our bereavement support service.
"It's 10 years now and the trust is all about helping others. Everything I do is in his name because I never want anyone to experience what we've been through."
To mark the date, the Bobby Colleran Trust posted a message on social media accompanied by a tribute poem from Joanne, It read: "As we mark 10 years since Bobby’s tragic passing, his memory remains as strong as ever in our hearts.
"Please take a moment to read and reflect on Bobby's legacy, and remember the importance of road safety for all our children."
Ten years have passed, my sweet boy dear,
Yet your laughter, your smile, still feels so near.
The years may move, like leaves in the breeze,
But your memory, like roots, still holds tight to me.
Every whisper of wind calls your name in my heart,
Reminding me, Bobby, we're never apart.
For ten long years, we've walked this road,
Each step a reminder of the love we've sowed.
Yet still, outside schools, cars rush on by,
While you, my angel, watch from the sky.
They park in places where children should be safe,
And I wonder, my son, what more will it take?
Your name became the beacon we raised,
A call for safety, for change, and for praise.
But still, too often, the world turns away,
As speed steals breath in careless dismay.
Though we've fought for the roads to slow their pace,
Too many still gamble with another child's grace.
I wish, my darling, that every driver knew,
That each speeding car could take away too.
But in every sign, every Bobby Zone near,
I feel you, guiding us, keeping us clear.
For though we've lost you, we carry your light,
And in your name, we continue the fight.
And today, my love, on the day I was born,
I feel the weight of both joy and mourn.
For on this day, the world took you away,
But your spirit lives on, in every step we stay.
Know, my Bobby, in all that we do,
Each step on this road is all for you.
You can find more information about the Bobby Colleran Trust and the ‘Wear Blue For Bobby’ campaign HERE.