A NUMBER of charitable events in memory of a 20 year old woman who “brightened up” the lives of all those she met are to take place.
Gemma McHale, who lived near Castlederg, died from multiple injuries sustained after her Peugeot 306 collided into a stone bridge on Letter Road in the Pettigo area in 2012.
Since then her family have regularly raised money for charitable causes in her memory as part of what they say was the “legacy of love” she left behind. 
And this Sunday (May 7) a charity cycle will take place from the Aghyaran GAA Centre in Castlederg with all proceeds going to towards the continuation of a mindfulness programme for young people in the area, Cancer Research, The Castlederg Patient Comfort And Terminally Ill Fund, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and chest, heart and stroke.
Participants are asked to sign in for the cycle (35 mile/56k or 18k) at 9am, with a 10am start. 
A memorial 5k walk/run will also take place at Aghyaran GAA Centre next Friday (May 12).
Registration on evening is from 4.30pm to 7pm and on Wednesday, May 10 from 7pm to 9pm in the centre. Alternatively registration can be submitted online by emailing mark.athletics@gmail.com.
Kieran McHale has previously talked about how his daughter’s death “changed our lives forever.” 
He told The Impartial Reporter: “She was the life and soul of the house, she brightened us all up, she cared for everyone.”
“It’s the little things I miss, like the text messages in the morning, the phone calls, knowing that we’ll never hear her voice again,” he said.
Last year a Coroner said it seemed likely that another vehicle was involved in the road traffic collision that claimed the student’s life.
Reviewing four possible scenarios, Coroner Joseph McCrisken said that it was “most likely” that there had been another vehicle coming in the opposite direction. He added that this scenario was backed up by evidence provided by forensic experts relating to tyre tracks at the scene and analysis of the car’s lightbulbs. 
At the beginning of the inquest, a statement from Gemma’s mother, Siobhan, had been read out.
“Our precious wee Gemma will always remain in our hearts,” she stated.
 Answering questions from the Coroner, Mrs McHale said that she was “confident” there was another car on the road. “Maybe for some reason they didn’t want to stop. It’s a life sentence for us and a life sentence for that person. It’ll always be with them,” she said.