THE sister of a schoolgirl who died at home of a heart attack brought on by asthma has told how helping friends raise £12,000 for defibrillators would "keep her memory alive".
Third year student Danii Kane's sudden death in 2014 shocked pupils at Armadale Academy who moved to raise awareness of heart issues in young people and to buy a defibrillator for their school, but ended up also raising enough money for five life-saving machines for their West Lothian community.
Danii's sister, 12-year-old Elle Berry, was one of a team of pupils who carried out the campaign of events, and the family donated the money raised at Danii's funeral to the fund.
Elle said: "In the last year I have also been involved in the fundraising.
"For me it is partly about keeping Danii's memory alive but also about knowing that this work will save the lives of others. My family are so proud of the outstanding work that Danii's friends have done in Armadale Academy and our community."
The team at Armadale Academy, with the help of the charity Lucky2BHere, bought defibrillators for their own school, Windyknowe Primary School, Tesco Bathgate, Craig Inn Blackridge and Armadale Community Centre.
Headteacher Carol McDonald said: “The sudden death of Danii Kane in November 2014 from a heart attack, which resulted from asthma, shocked and saddened the whole school community.
"Danii’s friends were determined to do something positive to remember her and to help other people.
"A group of key students decided it was an opportunity to raise awareness of heart issues with young people and to buy a defibrillator for the school.
"The students Tegan Johnston, Rebecca McComb, Corey Robertson, Mark Battison, Elise Marshall and Nicola Smart led many different activities to raise the funds needed to buy a defibrillator for Armadale Academy."
She added: "Danii’s family were involved from the start and donated the money which was raised at Danii’s funeral to start the fund-raising campaign.
"The students’ quest to bring something positive out of a heart-breaking situation has been remarkable.
"They have motivated the whole school and the wider community.
"When they embarked on their journey it was to buy a defibrillator for our school, what has been achieved is incredible.
"Every year we will remember Danii and her family and as a community we recognise the value of life and helping each other through difficult situations.”
Danii's friend Elise Marshall said: “We set out to buy one defibrillator but achieved so much more.
"I was part of a third year art class and we worked together to produce an amazing mosaic which will be a lasting memorial to Danii.
"We will continue to keep Danii’s memory alive through our fundraising and events.”
Another friend, Tegan Johnston, said: “Along with the defibrillators we were able to donate £1000 to Asthma UK, £1000 to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, £1000 to the intensive Care Unit at St John’s Hospital and £600 to the Armadale Youth space to buy a pool table
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