Taylor Swift fans raise over £200k for Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Cristina Jones, 28, and fellow Taylor Swift fan, Holly Goldring, 27, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, set up the Swifties for Southport appeal in the wake of the stabbing.

At the time of writing, their JustGiving page has raised more than £280,000, plus £58,465.53 Gift Aid, for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where young victims are currently being treated.

Cristina and Holly are among the joint administrators of the Taylor Swift UK & EU group on Facebook and have been big fans of the US singer-songwriter for many years.

The Southport knife attack victims (L-R): Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Aguiar, 9. Image: Merseyside Police/PA Wire (Image: Merseyside Police/PA Wire)

Cristina, of McDonogh Court, said: “We did not expect that amount. The fact that we are more than 2,000 per cent over our goal is incredible.

“I think one of the most incredible things is that it is being broadcast everywhere. The money doesn’t come to us, it is going straight to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.”

Six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe died on the day of the attack, while Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine, died in hospital on Tuesday, July 30 from injuries sustained in the attack.

The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport on Merseyside.

The BBC reported that eight more children were injured, with five left in a critical condition, after the incident. Two adults also suffered critical injuries, Merseyside Police said.

A 17-year-old male from Banks, who was arrested in connection to the stabbing in Southport on Monday, July 29, at the time of writing remains in police custody for questioning.

Taylor Swift shared a statement on Instagram saying she is “completely in shock”.

Swifties for Southport appeal organisers (l-r); Cristina Jones and Holly Goldring. (Image: Cristina Jones and Holly Goldring)

The fundraising page Swifties for Southport reads: “We are working with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to help raise money for the families affected by the tragedy in Southport and raising funeral funds for the three young swifties who have tragically passed.

“Every donation through this link goes directly to the verified charity below, which will in turn help make a difference to those impacted in a time of great sadness.”

The Swifties for Southport fundraising appeal page (Image: Swifties for Southport appeal)

Cristina added: “I firmly believe there’s nothing we can do to make the families feel better because of what they’re going through right now.

“But if we’ve taken some sort of burden from them, financial or whatever, it’s nice to know that we’ve done what we can do.

“We have no intentions of reaching out to the families ourselves – it will be Alder Hey who will help in terms of the family getting money, we will keep a respectable distance.”

Meanwhile, Ms Goldring told PA news  it is “within Swifties’ nature to care and love and support each other”.

The sales manager hopes the fundraiser can offer the family “an ounce of comfort” through the “utter turmoil” of losing their children.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/swifties-for-southport.