Heartbroken Claire Throssell lost her children, Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, in a fire that was started intentionally by her former husband, Darren Sykes. He barricaded the two young boys inside the house and set it alight.
Jack – who suffered 50 per cent burns to his head, chest and upper limbs – managed to tell police officers in the hospital: “It was my dad that started the fire,” before he passed away.
Darren also died in the blaze.
The Care For Clairefund hopes to raise £70,000 for Claire, who’s now homeless. The money will help to renovate the home and sell it on, so Claire can start to rebuild her shattered life.
In an emotional interview with the Mirror, Claire told how Darren had used a toy railway to lure Jack and Paul upstairs before he heartlessly started a fire which killed them.
“In just six minutes one night in October he completely destroyed my world,” Claire said. “He took my boys away from me. They were taken away by evil.”
In the June before the fire, Claire explained that Darren had stopped paying the house insurance. Then, three weeks before – he built the model railway in the attic to tempt the boys upstairs.
Now, Claire hopes to try and move on.
She added: “The community will remember seeing the boys playing in the garden. Jack would practise his trumpet every day and people used to stop and listen. I want to stay living in the area to be near them. I put my sons' ashes together and they are now with my dad.
“I would like to buy a small home and stay in the village where Paul and Jack lie but in order to do this the family home will have to be renovated.”
Rev David Hopkin started the fund to help Claire. He said: “Its dreadful for Claire and a constant reminder for the people in the neighbourhood
“As well as dealing with her bereavement it has become clear that Claire, on top of everything else has lost her home. Many people have asked me what they can do to help Claire and express their support practically.
“I am launching this campaign to raise funds to help Claire restore her former family home so that it can be sold.”
To find out more about Claire’s fund, click here.