The widow of murdered Eccles taxi driver Alan Henning has promised her teenage children will do their best to honour the memory of their father with tens of thousands of pounds in donations.
Alan, known locally as ‘Gadget’, was taken hostage and killed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State while delivering aid in Syria in October 2014.
He was the fourth hostage to be publicly killed by the militant extremists, after Yorkshire aid worker David Haines and American journalists Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff.
A huge fundraising drive to support his children Lucy, 17, and Adam, 15, saw thousands of people from all over the country join in.
It included £1,000 donated through SalfordOnline.com by local Muslim community group the Ahmadiyya Foundation.
Alan was named SalfordOnline.com’s first ever Salfordian of the Year in December.
A pre-season charity match between Salford Red Devils and Swinton Lions in February raised over £10,000, topped up to £20,000 by club owner Marwan Koukash.
That money was deposited with the family today.
A further £25,000 raised by Salford Council in association with SalfordOnline.com is expected to be handed over to the Henning family in the next two weeks. Speaking to SalfordOnline.com,
Barbara Henning said: “Lucy and Adam and their mum would like to thank everyone that was involved in raising this £20,000 that the family have received from Salford Red Devils.
“This will go into a trust fund for the children until they are 21.
“I hope they use this money in a way that would have made their dad proud.
“I’d like to again that everyone who played their part in raising this money in Alan’s memory.”
Red Devils Chief Executive Martin Vickers added: “The club is really pleased to see that the fund has now reached £45,000 and it is fantastic that the Rugby League community of the city has been able to lend some support to Lucy and Adam.
“They will always be welcome visitors to our Club and we hope these funds will help them rebuild their futures after such a tragic loss.”
