Danielle McLaughlin would have been 30 today.
Danielle McLaughlin was last seen on March 13th 2017, where she was dancing and celebrating the Holi festival.
The following day, her body was found on a beach in Goa.
She had brutally attacked, raped and murdered.
A 24-year-old man was arrested at the time of this senseless and heinous crime, and the trial is ongoing.
However, as horrific as the entire experience has been for her family, today is different.
Today, Danielle would have turned thirty, and her family have asked for one thing to honour their late daughter’s memory.
Kindness. Kindness is what they wish for on this day.
In an emotional post on the Truth For Danielle McLaughlin Facebook page, the family asked for people to remember Danielle.
“Even though Danielle dreaded this day, the day she would turn officially old in her eyes – 30. It used to scare her to even think about leaving her twenties, we would love if she was here to actually be allowed to age, have children, get married, tease her about ageing etc but we can’t.”
“We decided it didn’t have to be a negative thing and that we couldn’t make something positive come out of her thirtieth birthday. Just like she believed something good will always come out of something bad so here we are. Missing someone always and wishing they were here.”
“However, in Danielle’s memory, we are asking everyone to do a simple favour… Pay it forward (some examples in the pictures). All we want is for this week to even do one random act of kindness to a stranger/loved one even something as small and reminding a loved one that you love them and appreciate them (you never know the last time you will be able to do that as we sadly had to learn.)”
“Tell them why you are doing this- for such a bright light being taken away abruptly’s memory to live on.”
“We are doing a random act of kindness in Danielle McLaughlin’s memory, will you?”
So be kind – to yourself and the people in your life, always.
