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Alana Madill to be finally laid to rest

Author
NZME. news service,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Jul 2015, 4:39pm
Jerry Collins and his wife Alana Madill. (Photo: Instagram)
Jerry Collins and his wife Alana Madill. (Photo: Instagram)

Alana Madill to be finally laid to rest

Author
NZME. news service,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Jul 2015, 4:39pm

The Canadian partner of ex-All Black Jerry Collins, who also died in a car crash in France last month, will finally be laid to rest.

Alana Madill and Collins were killed when their car was struck by a bus on a French motorway on June 5.

Their infant daughter Ayla, now nearly 4 months old, was injured in the smash but is now safely in Canada with Ms Madill's parents, Ruth and Darrell Madill.

While 34-year-old Collins was laid to rest in an emotional funeral attended by thousands including the Madills, friends, fans, and former teammates at Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena on June 17, Ms Madill's family and friends have had to wait to say their final goodbyes as their priority has been caring for baby Ayla.

Ayla was transferred directly from Montpellier Hospital in France to Winnipeg Children's Hospital in Canada on July 6.

She was then discharged in to her maternal grandparents' care four days later. It's feared she will likely have ongoing disabilities.

Now, Ms Madill's close friend Jordan McDonald has revealed that a funeral service will be held on August 1 at Regina Rugby Club in the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

A fundraising event will be held the same day. All proceeds will go to assist the Madill family's expenses for the future care of Ayla, the local Leader-Post newspaper reports.

A silent auction will be held and Ms McDonald hopes for a large turn-out for the "upbeat and fun" event that her friend, also 34, would've wanted.

"She was special," Ms McDonald told the Leader-Post.

"Alana had this thing about her that drew people to her."

People who cannot attend the event can donate at In Memory of Alana Madill online at www.gofundme.com.

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