By Leicester Mercury | Posted 15 April, 2013
Family and friends of Leah Reek have completed an emotional charity walk in memory of the 18-year-old who lost her life in the Hinckley Road explosion.
Leah's mum Joanne, sister Molly and nearly 50 of her friends took part in a Twilight Walk last night to raise money for the LOROS hospice where the teenager had been a volunteer before her death.
A minute's silence was held at the start of the 10-kilometre walk outside the King Power Stadium before the group set off.
Joanne told the Mercury: "It was an absolutely amazing evening - just a lovely atmosphere.
"Leah loved leopard print so we all wore leopard ears and tails.
"It was quite a sight.
"Leah was with us every step of the way.
"She brought the sunshine out for us.
"It has been seven weeks since our world stopped and it hasn't really restarted.
"It has been a terrible time. It still is,
"But this walk has been one positive in all the negative.
"It allowed us to remember a beautiful, sparky girl, with a lovely smile who really cared about other people."
Leah started volunteering at the hospice in Groby Road last August and had been given an unconditional offer to study adult nursing at De Montfort University.
Joanne said: "They (DMU) sent us a beautiful letter last week to tell us how well she came across in her interview and how enthusiastic she was and how wonderful they thought she would have been.
"It was lovely to hear but also saddening because it was a picture of how things should have been for Leah."
More than £17,000 has been raised for LOROS by the walkers in memory of the Melton teenager and the donations are still coming in.
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