$2,600 Raised So Far Toward Memorial for Local Girl

A campaign has been set up on GoFundMe.com to help a local family construct a memorial for Emerson Lily Hitchcock, a young girl who passed away in 2010. 

"My niece, 8 year old Reese Hitchcock of Marshfield heartbreakingly asks for the same gift every time Christmas or her birthday comes around....her little sister Emerson back," Vinnie Tonello writes.

"However, Reese is now older and understands it is not a wish anyone can grant. So this year for her birthday, she made a different request and has asked to please finish the picnic pavilion the family has been trying to raise money to build in Emerson's memory at the playground in Marshfield."

In the past 12 days, Tonello has raised $2,665 from 67 donations. The goal is $30,000.

From the fundraising page:

A perfectly healthy, vibrant, 2.5 year old, Emerson passed away in her sleep during an afternoon nap from a little known monster, called SUDC, sudden unexplained death in childhood. Reese and Emerson ("Emmie") shared an amazing bond and were truly best friends as well as sisters.

With Reese's 9th birthday approaching at the end of the month, again Reese has said her only wish is for her sister back. ...

Many people have supported us through our nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity called The Emerson Lily Hitchcock Memorial foundation but we still have so far to go. We would like nothing more than to tell Reese on her birthday that we are ready to build as soon as the ground thaws.