By Victoria Stone-meadows
BROOKE Skewes lost her best friend in a horror car smash in Lynbrook seven years ago and has maintained close ties to the family ever since.
It is though those close ties to the family that Ms Skewes has decided to raise funds to help the family with its ongoing struggle.
Ms Skewes was very close to 16-year-old Riyani Lowen who tragically lost her life at the intersection of Hallam and Ormond roads at 1.30am on 28 June 2009.
Since then Ms Skewes has done everything she can to support Riyani’s mother Emma and younger sister Casey who was born with cerebral palsy.
Since the accident Emma Lowen has developed PTSD from the shock loss of her eldest daughter and the strain of caring for her youngest.
Ms Skewes cares deeply for the Lowen family and has organised a fundraising day to help Emma Lowen get the treatment she needs and offer more support for Casey.
“I met them when I was 10 and I’m 22 now,” Ms Skewes said.
“I was friends with Riyani when we lost her in the car accident in 2009 but I have maintained a relationship with the family.”
Ms Skewes said she has seen first-hand the toll Riyani’s death has taken on her mother.
“I think that, at the start, when it was fresh, a massive influx of attention and support was put on the family but as time has gone by that has died off,” she said.
“For Emma the longer time passes, the worse it has been for her.”
Ms Skewes has organised a family fun day in Hampton Park that is open to the community to raise much needed money for Lowens.
“I wanted to put the day on as I have a Gofundme account and I thought putting on an event to raise money and raise awareness of the Gofundme site would really help,” she said.
Emma Lowen is seeing a counsellor once a week for her PTSD that costs about $220 a week as well as medication which costs the family $250 a week.
“It’s just too much for a single income family with a disabled child,” Ms Skewes said.
“It puts a strain on Emma because she feels guilty when her family is struggling to spend money on herself even though she really needs it.”
The family fun day will be held on Wednesday 21 September at the Hampton Park Community House and will include events and activities for the whole family.
With sausage sizzles, face paints, balloon modelling, games and sports, live entertainment and much more, the event will be great fun for a worthy cause.
To find out more about the Lowen family or to donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com/helpemgethelp.
