Jason Francis: Donations continue in memory of tragic sportsman and partner Alice Robinson
Donations continue to flood in from around to the world in memory of a former Shropshire footballer and his girlfriend who died just days before Christmas in Australia.
Jason Francis, who played for Market Drayton Town FC, and rugby for Newport and Bridgnorth died when he was hit by a vehicle while on a pavement in the Scarborough area of Perth on December 22.
The following day his girlfriend, Alice Robinson had gone missing, and she was found dead in non-suspicious circumstances, with her family saying she had taken her own life because she could not bear to live without Jason.
Cottesloe Rugby Club in Australia, where Mr Francis, 29, played, began fundraising for the cost of getting the pair back to the UK.
As the total rose the target increased, and now $43,000 dollars has almost been raised by kind hearted people from all over the world.
On New Years Eve, a person, listed on the Go Fund Me Page as 'ANZenviro Lads', donated $1,000.
It comes just days after £16,000 was raised from a rugby tournament that was attended by 1,000 people in the memory of the couple, who had been out in Australia for around 12 months.
Travelling
Over the past few days, their neighbour, named just as Colette, has told how she rushed to the hospital to support Ms Robinson that evening, after Mr Francis had died.
She was not to be found, and the neighbour said: "We knew she would have been in a terrible state. We just could not find her.
"I feel so terrible for both their families over there. I'm so sorry we couldn't find her."
The couple had been together for eight years and had been travelling around the world together.
Colette paid tribute to the couple and added: "They were a loving, bubbly, happy couple, and very thoughtful neighbours."
In the days following the tragedy, Ms Robinson's mother, Dawn had posted on social media confirming her daughter had taken her own life.
She said: "I am devastated to let everyone know that my beautiful daughter was so distraught she could not bear to live without her beloved Jase and chose to take her own life."
The crowdfunding page can be found at gofundme.com/26gphe-rip-help-get-jase-and-alice-home
