School and community garden to remember Lucas
26 Apr 2016
University colleagues help appeal to create memorial for much-loved pupil who lost his brain tumour battle
University colleague Karen Varty is helping a local family to raise money to build a school garden in memory of their seven-year-old son, who died from a brain tumour.
Karen, Head of Academic Services at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is also Chair of Governors at Tithe Barn School, Stockport, where the garden is being built in honour of pupil Lucas Garrity, who died in 2013. His parents Karen and Damyon Garrity need to raise around £50,000 to build the garden, which they hope will be used by generations of children and will act as a memorial to Lucas.
Tithe Barn is a small school, but attended by many children from University families, and any support for this cause would make an enormous contribution.
Karen Garrity said: “Lucas is sorely missed by all who knew him, and we had been looking for an appropriate way to remember his love of life, happy caring nature and his sunny smile.
“With additional lighting making the garden available for use in the evenings, this is a way of remembering Lucas and creating a lasting legacy for others to enjoy.
“Tithe Barn aims to develop this space into a special pupil and community garden which the children can use during and after school for outdoor learning and play activities.
“The garden will then be used for the benefit of the community providing outdoor activities as well as other family events.”
Damyon and Karen, who have two other children attending and just about to start Tithe Barn School, have already raised £28,000 for the Brainstrust in Lucas’ memory.
To donate
Damyon has set up a Crowd Funding account for donations. To donate visit: