A CLASSMATE of Buncrana pier tragedy victim Jodie Lee Daniels has raised funds for an engraved memorial bench at her school by paddling across the Foyle River.
Sarah Bonner, a junior member of the Foyle Paddlers club, completed the challenge, called "Paddle for Jodie", on Saturday.
The teenager paddled from Prehen Boathouse to Culmore Point, where she was welcomed by family and friends.
In a Facebook post, the club wrote: "In typical Foyle Paddlers fashion, fellow members turned out to provide safety and support, in choppy conditions and crosswinds. Sarah raised around £450 towards a memorial bench at her school, which her classmates will all engrave."
Jodie Lee (14) died along with her mother Ruth Daniels (57), Sean McGrotty (46) and his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8) when their Audi car slipped into the water at Buncrana pier on Sunday March 20th.
Jodie Lee was a Year 10 pupil at St Mary's College in Derry, where students made yellow and white ribbons in her memory following her death and appealed for her favourite singer, Justin Bieber, to record a message in her memory.
Marie Lindsay, the principal of St Mary’s College, described Jodie Lee as a "quiet, hard-working and beautiful young girl."
The only survivor of the tragedy was four-month-old baby girl Rionaghac-Ann McGrotty, who was rescued by heroic bystander Davitt Walsh, who swam out to the sinking car.
