Richard Okorogheye
(Picture: PA)More than £45,000 has been raised in three days in honour of Richard Okorogheye.
Mr Okorogheye went missing after leaving his family home in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on March 22.
His body was found in a pond in Epping Forest, in Essex, on Monday, two weeks after his mother Evidence Joel reported him missing.
A GoFundMe page was created by Mr Okorogheye’s aunt, Blessing Okorji on Thursday to help raise money for funeral costs and to build a foundation in his name.
On the fundraising appeal, Ms Okorji wrote: “Richard, who was just at the tender age of 19 when he died, is a wonderful son, cousin & friend, who touched the lives of many around him.
“He is a beautiful, kind and thoughtful person, whose smile always lit a room that he entered. He is the son that would do anything for his mum, and just breaks our heart that he is not going to be here anymore.
She said that he was “a bright and intelligent boy” who studied at Oxford Brookes University and had “high aspirations for the future.”
“He is loved by those in the community, he was always the funny one in the group, he had a radiant smile!
“He had dreams and ambitions he sadly never got to achieve.”
Ms Okorji said this was something “we never thought we would ever have to go through.”
“God bless your soul Richard. We have heard nothing but lovely and good things about you, we know you left this world way too young, but your presence will continue to live on through your family & friends.”
The GoFundMe has surpassed its original £5,000 goal.
One donor wrote: “I’m so sorry for your loss. He was clearly so loved by his family, I hope you find peace.”
Another said: “I hope that Richard’s family and friends can feel the love and support that is being sent their way. RIP Richard.
Part of the money raised will go towards creating a foundation for those with sickle cell disease and young people struggling with mental health.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Joel said: “There has to be awareness and for it to be treated as a serious disease.
“If we can use Richard’s name to bring more awareness then so be it.
“A lot of people out there have a condition where they don’t have a voice, the public and society need to know what sickle cell is.”
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