Charity event in memory of Lucy McHugh to take place at Mansel Park

Hundreds of people are expected to gather on Saturday at Mansel Park to honour the 13-year-old, whose body was discovered in woodland near Southampton Sports Centre in July last year.

The event is being organised by Lucy’s mother, Stacey White, who is aiming to raise money for charity and keep her daughter’s memory alive.

She said: “Lucy was very much a people person. She was friends with everyone she spoke to. She was the sort of person who, if she saw someone upset, she would stop and want to talk to them.

“That’s why we want to get her friends and the community together in one place for a day of fun.

Stacey added: “Lucy would love an event like this.”

The event, which will take place from 11am on Saturday, will include a barbecue and music, as well as activities such as a bouncy castle and a hook-a-duck competition.

It will also have more than a dozen stalls from local businesses, including Blakes Entertainment, which is providing a PA system, as well West End-based sweet company, Sweet Cones by Kelly.

Stacey said: “Lucy loved sun, junk food and being with her friends.

“All the events we run are filled with junk food, noise and people.”

She added: “We will fight to keep Lucy’s memory alive – that’s what we want to do.”

As well as honouring Lucy, the event will also aim to raise hundreds of pounds for charitable causes.

The money will be split between bereavement charity SAMM, as well as an outside classroom project by Wordsworth School in Shirley.

The event is set to take place more than eight months after the disappearance of Lucy, who went missing from her home in Mansel Road East on July 25.

Her body was found in a wooded area near Southampton Sports Centre the following day, with a post-mortem later revealing she died of stab wounds.

A murder investigation was launched by police, who taped off a large area of the sports centre following the discovery.

Dozens of floral tributes were left at the scene.

Police later charged Stephen Nicholson with Lucy’s murder, which he denied during his last appearance at Southampton Crown Court in January.

The 24-year-old also pleaded not-guilty to sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in 2012.

Nicholson, who was remanded in custody, is due to appear at Southampton Crown Court for a case management hearing on May 10.

His trial is currently due to start on June 18.