Fundraiser for 'murdered' West Lothian girl surpasses £5k after heartbreaking loss

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A fundraiser set up to help the family of a ‘murdered’ West Lothian girl has smashed its target in less than 24 hours.The GoFundMe started by a close family friend of Hope Gordon, a six-year-old found dead next to her dad at a property on West Calder’s Harburn Drive on Monday, January 20.A major emergency service response swarmed the street and gained access to the home where they tragically found the body of Hope and her 36-year-old dad Mark.Police have since confirmed Hope’s death is being treated as murder and the death of her dad remains unexplained.

However, they believe nobody else was involved and there is no threat to the wider public.Melanie Wheeldon, a close family friend, started a fundraiser to contribute towards Hope’s funeral and described her as a “vibrant and loving little girl” with an “infectious smile.”Melanie added how the hearts of friends and family were left shattered following the heartbreaking discovery and the void left by the loss “can never be filled.”Over £5,000 has now been raised from over 350 donations as Melanie wrote: “On January 20th, 2025, our hearts shattered as we learned of the tragic and senseless murder of 6-year-old Hope.

Hope was a vibrant and loving little girl, known for her infectious smile, kind spirit, and deep love for animals.“Hope’s life was tragically cut short, leaving a void in the hearts of her family and friends that can never be filled.

This GoFundMe page has been created to help Hope’s family with the unexpected funeral expenses during this incredibly difficult time.“Every contribution, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated.