A fundraising drive to support the family of a Scots mum and daughter brutally killed in stabbing attacks that shocked the country has reached nearly £25,000 just a week after the double tragedy.
Allana King had initially set out to raise just £1,000 in support of Emma Robertson Coupland, 39, and her daughter, Nicole Anderson, 24, following their deaths in Kilmarnock.
Emma's crazed former husband Steven Robertson knifed her outside of her work at Crosshouse Hospital around 7.45pm before going to his step-daughter's work on Portland Street and killing her 20 minutes later last Thursday.
Robertson himself died after crashing his car into a tree.
Allana, sister-in-law of Nicole, set up a gofundme page online to support the family through their struggles with a modest goal of £1,000.
But people across Scotland have been touched and, at the time of writing, some £24,907 has flowed in.
Allan wrote: "As you will all have read in the papers and the news we tragically lost Emma and Nicole over the weekend leaving three young girls without a mum and sister.
"This is also left the three girls to pay for not only one funeral but two.
"I have decided to set up a go fund me page to help try and ease the financial stress of worrying about paying for their funerals even if it’s just a pound each every little helps.
"Everyone is absolutely devastated and heartbroken over their deaths, they were the most funny, loving, bubbly people I have ever known and never had a day where they weren’t smiling."
Scotland was left stunned by the brutal slayings last week.
Hospital cleaner Emma was hailed by NHS Ayrshire chief executive John Burns saying she would be 'sadly missed'.
Family are also planning to release balloons into the sky tonight at 6pm to mark the tragedy.
People donating to the fundraiser paid heartfelt tribute to the pair.
One person wrote: "You’ll never be forgotten you crazy diamond. I wish life had more to give you than this, you deserved the world.
"Fly high beautiful and rest in peace with your mum."
Another added: "Such a tragic story RIP Ladies and much love to all of the family.
"Hope a small act of kindness from strangers can help you all eventually see the good in the world again."
A third wrote: "I can’t even imagine how you guys must be feeling but be sure to remember that all of Scotland has your back and we always pull together in these hard times. Big hugs."
To donate click here.
