Sam Diatta’s sister has told YorkMix that the family has decide to set up a JustGiving page to raise cash for the mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness in his memory
It comes a week after about 50 of Sam’s family and friends gathered on the steps of York Minster to remember the 39-year-old man from York who died after a disturbance at Mappin and Webb jewellers on July 26.
Sam had battled with his mental health since he was a teenager and his family hope that donations will help others in a similar situation.
Because of the ongoing police investigation, his family have not been able to hold a funeral. So they organised the vigil, where candles were lit, tributes were paid and songs were sung.
His sister, Teba, paid tribute to her brother saying he was an amazing person and was greatly missed.
“We’ve had over 150 cards, we’ve had 25 bouquets of flowers, people stopping us in the street, coming up and giving us hugs.
“It’s really helping us get through this awful time.”
You can find the JustGiving page here.
At last week’s vigil his mother Judy said: “We miss Sam very very much,” she said. “It was so sudden, the way he was taken.
“So when a police officer turned up in the evening at half past six and said there’d been this incident we couldn’t believe it.”
Mrs Diatta spoke of the kindness people had shown since his death.
“We will always hold him in our hearts. And we’re just so amazed at the way he’s touched so many lives.
“We’ve felt so loved and supported, just a very big thank you to everyone.”
Four men, arrested in connection with the incident, have been interviewed and released on bail pending the results of police and medical investigations.
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