KENILWORTH HELPING HANDS CLUB A Social Club for Disabled Young People · Registered Charity Number 510506 ·

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Natalie Collins  23/03/82 - 19/09/08 Natalie passed away suddenly on 19th September 2008, as a result of a road accident. She was a much loved and special daughter of Michael and Jean and brother to Andrew and long term girlfriend of Gareth  who had stood by her during, and after, her serious illness in 2001. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  Natalie was a quiet, happy girl who had overcome enormous adversity in her life. Most of her schooling was in Witney, Oxfordshire and she moved to Warwick in 1998 when she started at Castle Sixth Form Centre in Kenilworth. Whilst there, she performed Community Service as part of her school curriculum, at the Helping Hands Club at Thorns School, Kenilworth.   In 2000 she went to Portsmouth University to start a French and European Studies degree and it was there that she met her long term boyfriend Gareth.  During the summer break of 2001 she was suddenly taken ill with a blood clot in her brain. This had a devastating effect on her but thanks to the care she received at Warwick, Walsgrave (now University) Hospitals and the Oxford Radcliffe Infirmary she survived. She then spent nearly 4 months at the Heathcote Rehabilitation Hospital re-learning all the basic skills including walking and talking.   Her ultimate recovery was quite good and she resumed a part time job at Warwick Sainsbury’s where she had worked prior to going to University. She also attended Warwickshire College where she undertook ABI courses aimed specifically at people who have had an acquired brain injury and this also aided her recovery.   Through all this her boyfriend, Gareth, had stood by her and he still managed to complete his degree in 2004.   Natalie had continued her involvement with the Helping Hands Club and, tragically, it was during her return from there that the accident occurred.   She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but especially her parents Michael and Jean, her brother Andrew and, of course, by Gareth. Here are some remembrances of Natalie from her friends at club. "We will miss her smiling face" "Thinking of Natalie means that the sun goes down and Natalie makes the flowers grow" "Natalie was a ray of sunlight and made me feel happy" "I want to remember Natalie as she was" "I always remember her coming in, larger than life and that's how she was." "She had a great smile." "She was a good lady and used to come nearly every week. Sometimes she had to work at Warwick Sainsbury's." "I miss her." "I enjoyed Natalie's company because she was always happy, smiley & enjoyed telling jokes. She enjoyed joining in all the activities and she made them more fun" "We'll miss Natalie being here and there is an empty space without her" "She was a friend. One evening we just giggled, talked too much and had a laugh." "She was a wonderful person to know." "She lived music and sang  to people. She liked helping people." "Natalie was a wonderful person. Always  willing to help anyone and with anything. Forever smiling and having fun. She will be greatly missed, never forgotten and impossible to replace. Donations Natalie's parents very generously requested donations to club in lieu of flowers and over £2,200 was donated by family, friends and wellwishers.  We would like to thank everyone who so generously donated. We are still thinking about what we can do with the money.  Some of it will be used for a permanent memorial to Natalie - one of the suggestions is to see if we can plant a tree to go with the memorial bench that Michael & Jean will be putting at Thorns School.  We already have a small memorial club trophy which will be presented annually as part of our ever-popular "Stars in their Eyes" evening. Further in keeping with Natalie's love of music, we may also purchase a Karaoke machine. Karaoke is a huge favourite with members and a great way to remember Natalie. Generally, as with most donations we receive, most of the money will go to the ongoing support of the club and its activities.