Legacy Building

Final charity run in memory of Jersey teenager to be held

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BBC The three girls sit on a concrete wall and smile at the camera. Saskia is on the left and is where a black dress, top and jacket. Tilly is in the centre and has baggy jeans and a baggy blue jumper and wears a necklace. Lily is on the left and is wearing a red laced top and has black shorts on. Behind them is a green patch of grass with buildings in the background.BBC

Saskia (left), Tilly (centre), and Lily (right) came up with Run for Kezia in memory of their friend

A charity run held in memory of a Jersey teenager will be held for the final time on Sunday.

Run for Kezia was set up after Kezia Mason took her own life in 2022 when she was 14 years old.

The idea for the event came from her school friends and has raised about £35,000.

The teenagers are now preparing for university so this year will be the third and last time the run will go ahead.

‘Mixed emotions’

Alex Ruddy Most of the runners are wearing white tops with a green square with their race numbers on. Some are in fancy dress. They run under a banner saying Run for Kezia. In the background to the left is a hotel building and then behind the sea wall next to the runners - the beach stretches out into the distance.Alex Ruddy

More than 800 runners took part in the first Run for Kezia event in 2022

Lily, Saskia and Tilly came up with the idea for the memorial run.

Lily said there were “definitely mixed emotions” that the event would finish this year but “it’s really nice to have everyone together for it”.

She added: “We knew so many people loved Kezia, but the sheer amount of people that did come to the first run was almost overwhelming.”

Saskia said the friends were “really proud that it’s got such an important message about mental health out there”.

Tilly said this year’s run would have a “bittersweet feeling” but “it’s time to have different events and different ways to raise money in Kezia’s honour”.

She added: “There’s like a lot of firsts we’ve gone through without Kezia and it feels weird but I feel like we’re carrying her legacy with us as her friends and doing what we can to keep her legacy alive.”

Run for Kezia will take place from 08:00 to 15:00 BST on 15 September.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

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