New Facebook page set up in Gately’s honour
Dublin People 09 Mar 2012
FANS of the late north inner city singer Stephen
Gately have set up a new Facebook page in his honour.
Wendy Gian (33), from Amsterdam, contacted Northside
People to let Stephen’s fans know that he hasn’t been forgotten.
“We set up the page in January to celebrate Stephen’s life
and his work,
? says Wendy.
“Also, we wanted to show people that we will never
forget him and he is still important to us.
“Myself and my friends Leanne Pearson and Sylvia
Bominaar have been busy with the Facebook page since last December. We wanted
to prepare everything because a fan page takes time.
Ideas
“We started by sorting everything out and coming up
with ideas about how we were going to do it.
“We wanted it to be different than other pages. We
figured that it’s all about teamwork. We are a great team.
“We have 255 followers of the page because we have
just started it, but we hope to have 500 at the end of this year. Up until now
the reaction has been very positive.
“Fans are also helping us by providing pictures and
spreading the word about the page’s existence, and some of Stephen’s friends
are members.
?
Wendy and her friends are also determined to raise
funds for the UK-based charity Cauldwell Children of which Stephen was an
ambassador. They are currently selling wristbands and keychains online, while
Leeanne is going to run a half marathon to raise funds.
Stephen died in October 2009 while on holiday in
Majorca, aged just 33. Wendy was in London when she heard of his death.
Unfair
“I was very sad,
? she recalls.
“When I seen all the
footage of his funeral, it was just horrible and so unfair that a very young
man should die. He was such a good person who affected so many people.
?
Wendy says she has many happy memories of Stephen, and
especially his performance of the track
‘Single Ladies’.
“He looked so happy, alive and full of positive
energy,
? she states.
“He really enjoyed being on stage.
Cute
“He was cute, sweet, hugging and honest, had this
amazing, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes, and his heart was in the right
place. He was just someone you wanted to hug when you saw him.
?
Wendy travelled to London, Dublin and Castlebar last
year for the Boyzone tribute tour, which was
“amazing
?.
“It was a tour full of dancing, singing and tears,
?
she states.
“You could really see and feel the love for Stephen,
by the Boyzone members themselves and also the fans.
Respect
“We miss Stephen very much. I’m very proud of what
Mikey (Graham), Ronan (Keating), Shane (Lynch) and Keith (Duffy) have done for
him. They deserve great respect.
?
Wendy and her friends have also called a star after
Stephen.
“Leeanne found out that you can call a star after a
person,
? adds Wendy.
“We all love it because we always call Stephen our
bright, shining star. It is very fitting.
?
Stephen Gately’s fans will particularly remember him
this weekend on his birthday. The man who hailed from Sheriff Street would have
been 36 on St Patrick’s Day.
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