Blast survivor launches fund-raising for families of Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford

Cheryl McDonald and daughter Bryony Skye Murtaugh, nine, survived the Manchester bomb attack.

The much-loved South Shields teenagers were among the 22 people killed at Manchester Arena when a suicide bomber stuck at an Ariana Grande concert.

Cheryl McDonald, who runs charity group, Community Corner, and her daughter, Bryony, nine, were also at the concert, but luckily survived the terrifying ordeal.

Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, died in the Manchester bombing.

The pair didn’t realise anything had happened until they were leaving the concert and saw a number of people crying.

Once they were told a bomb had gone off, panic-stricken Cheryl, grabbed Bryony and ran, taking refuge in a nearby office block for about an hour, before someone took them back to their hotel.

Now, with permission from the families of Chloe, 17, and 19-year-old Liam, Cheryl is launching a week of fund-raising events to go towards paying for things such as funeral expenses, a memorial and even counselling services for distraught family and friends of the couple.

Cheryl said: “We are so, so sad that so many innocent, beautiful people lost their lives. Two of our very own community, Chloe and Liam, were so cruelly taken away from their family and friends.”

She and other fund-raisers, are now calling on businesses and the community to help, by donating raffle prizes.

Cheryl said: “This won’t start until Monday, June 5, but we want to get prepared to raise as much as we possibly can for these two beautiful families going through the worst time imaginable.

“Let’s raise as much as possible to support Chloe and Liam’s families.”

Anyone who would like to help or make a donation can go along to the Community Corner shops, in Edinburgh Road, Jarrow, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4pm, or Boldon Lane, South Shields, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

People can also contact Cheryl directly on 07495 895051.