Stella Toners family honors her memory by fundraising for addiction support after she was found in the River Medway.
Her family wants to honor Stella and help others facing addiction. Kirsty, Stella’s daughter, leads the effort by running the London Marathon. Kirsty and her brother, Conor, organize Stellafest, a fundraiser at the Rising Sun pub in Rochester.
Kirsty says running helps her grieve and wonders what she could have done differently. Helping others gives her peace. Open Road charity, which supported Stella and helps people with addictions in Chatham.
Stella worked for John Lewis and visited Open Road for support. Kirsty said the staff became Stella’s family, offering unwavering support without judging. Kirsty felt embarrassed about her mom’s drinking, highlighting addiction, especially that drinking is common, but can be a problem.
Kirsty believes working from home worsened Stella’s issues, and her children growing up also affected her. Stella loved being around people; working alone was hard. She enjoyed hosting and cooking, but Stella felt she lost her purpose. Open Road offered her a lifeline.
After Stella died, people donated to Open Road, raising almost £3,000. The money renovated the kitchen, now called Stella’s Kitchen. Kirsty became a patron for Open Road.
Kirsty is training for the marathon and plans Stellafest, on March 1st and 2nd. The event includes music, raffles, and auctions. She will lobby for fencing on the Esplanade to prevent future tragedies, as the river’s current poses a danger to everyone.
Kirsty thanks those who helped search for Stella and appreciates the condolences she received. Social media helped her family greatly, as people shared her mom’s picture everywhere. Kirsty is grateful for the community’s support.