THE appeal to provide financial assistance for the family of Coleford murder victim Lorna Butcher has made an encouraging start and now stands at over £2,000.
The cash is being made available to Lorna's sister Emma and her husband Shaun Daley, of Bullfinch Road, Gloucester, who have taken on the role of fostering Jack and Sophie, aged three and a half and 18 months.
Emma has had to give up her job to bring up the youngsters.
The family has been disappointed to find no source of funding available through social services and the appeal fund was started as the result of an idea from family friends Steve and Lynda Parsons, of Viney Hill.
Mr Parsons told the Review : " We have made a good start. The Coleford Festival proved a big success and raised over £1,000. A number of other local groups have offered to help and the money is starting to come in."
The first of the major fund-raisers is booked to take place at Rank Xerox Social Club, Mitcheldean, on Friday, June 28.
Local entertainers Yasmine, Skin and Tonic, Bar Room Boys, Dirty Boy and Mike Connolly are giving their services free of charge and the evening will be offically launched by Forest MP Diana Organ.
Tickets can be obtained from Berry Hill Post Office and the One Stop shops in Coleford and Lydney.
All the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to The Jack and Sophie Appeal.