Family of tragic York girl Katie Rough near funding target

Pictured is Katie Rough, from York, who died in January.

Eight relatives and family friends will take part in the Great North Run in September to help “honour Katie and leave an amazing legacy in her name”.

They want to raise £6,000 to sponsor two children in Uganda, the native country of the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, who has supported them since Katie’s death in January.

Both children, Pross and King, who attend the Compassion Project in Uganda, are the same age as Katie when she died.

The family wrote in an online message: “The higher the donations go, the longer we can support them for. It costs £25 a month to sponsor a child through Compassion.

“If we can help another child or children overcome poverty and adversity, at least some good will come out of our loss.

“We as a family want to pay tribute to our amazing daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and cousin. Katie was a much loved, treasured member of our family and her loss has left a massive void.”

Ahead of the Great North Run on September 10, so far more than £4,400 has been raised in memory of Katie.

Pictured Katie Rough with her nephew, Oliver

She was found with severe lacerations to her neck and chest on a playing field in January.

In July, a 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility in relation to her death. She will be sentenced later this year.

To donate to #TeamRough visit https://challenges.compassionuk.org/profile/450/-teamrough-running-for-katie.