Shalorna said: ‘It is really hard.‘Things like this keep you busy and stop you thinking about things but the reality is that they are both not here.
‘Karlene was such a protective big sister and also an amazing mum. One positive is I know that Karlene will be taking good care of Zackary – I’ve always said that.
‘This is why we have called our charity Together – because they are together. That’s the one positive thing to take from this.’She added: ‘It’s hard being here. I love seeing kids and being a mam but I always think that should have been my son.’
Zackary’s grandmother Alison, 59, is also set to take on a bike ride dubbed ‘Granny on a bike’ from southern France all the way back to Darlington as part of an effort to raise funds for the cause.
‘This week has been the hardest week of my life since the incident,’ Alison said.
‘We had the funeral, court case, and sentencing.
‘But, it never felt real until we came back to the UK. Karlene would always be so excited to see me. But, the reality is that she isn’t here. They both aren’t here.
‘My bike ride will be a challenge and I know it will be hard, but the real challenge now is going through our lives without Karlene and Zackary every day.’
Alison’s husband Nigel said: ‘I am proud to be her father.
‘And then there’s baby Zack. He was always smiling, and laughing. He could have grown up and been somebody and done something with his
He was always happy and was a mam’s boy, stuck to her hip like a little monkey. The last time I saw him that’s where he was – sucking on his dummy and smiling.
‘Zackary was such a wonderful child.’
Alongside their fundraising, the family also set up a petition in hopes of introducing a mandatory lifelong driving ban for deaths caused by dangerous driving.
The petition is now close to 76,000 signatures and has been backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen who has promised to do everything possible to support the campaign and raise the issue nationally.
‘Things like this keep you busy and stop you thinking about things but the reality is that they are both not here.
‘Karlene was such a protective big sister and also an amazing mum. One positive is I know that Karlene will be taking good care of Zackary – I’ve always said that.
‘This is why we have called our charity Together – because they are together. That’s the one positive thing to take from this.’
She added: ‘It’s hard being here. I love seeing kids and being a mam but I always think that should have been my son.’
Zackary’s grandmother Alison, 59, is also set to take on a bike ride dubbed ‘Granny on a bike’ from southern France all the way back to Darlington as part of an effort to raise funds for the cause.
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