A FUNDRAISING page has been set up to help pay for the funeral of Mairead O'Neill, the Belfast model who died suddenly this week, aged just 21.
Her passing came just 10 months after Mairead's mother, Karen Pelan, died following a battle against bowel cancer.
A rising star in the modelling industry, the 21-year-old's death is a significant blow to her two surviving siblings, Brendan and Bronagh, who both have three beautiful children.
And with Christmas just around the corner, friends of the family have rallied round to set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of Mairead's funeral.
GoFundMe pages allow people to make online donations to a cause of their choosing and crucially this particular fundraiser has been set up with the permission of the late model's family.
Family friend Julie Rooney set up the crowdfunding page, alongside a plea for help from anyone who can spare it.
"I know people are struggling financially as it is but every little helps, these kids have no means of affording a funeral and the last thing they need is a funeral bill on top of their doubly painful heartbreak," she wrote on the GoFundMe page.
"As their mummy's friend, I'm hopeless as to what I can do, I'm hoping that with people's help we can make it a tiny bit easier on them.
"So please if you can, let's help ease this burden, thank you all for taking time to read this".
There has been some positive news already though, with the campaign successfully raising its target figure of £10,000/ €11,383 in just a few short hours.
But it's still not too late to do your bit for the cause - if you would like to make a donation, however big or small, head to the fundraising page here.
