Kyle McManus died aged 16 a year ago.

His parents Ian and Dawn McManus have set up a trust fund called Red Dreams in his memory and have now raised the £5,000 needed for charity status.

MARK THOMPSON spoke to the couple.




"WHOEVER said time heals has never really lost anyone of any significance."

They're the words of Dawn McManius - the mother of Kyle McManus who died last spring while playing with friends.

His distraught parents were inconsolable at losing their only child but found refuge in setting up a charity in his memory.

Kyle, who went to Manor College of Technology, in Hartlepool, was gifted both academically and artistically. His parents say he loved life and lived it to the full.

Dawn, 37, a teacher at St Michael's RC School, in Billingham, said: "We have been through all the anniversaries now and we thought after a year it might get easier but now we don't expect it to.

"It's hard knowing that you will never see your own child grow up and see the them build the confidence I see now in his friends.

"I can deal with it a lot better than Ian because he hasn't seen kids achieve success like I have in my job. It will always be hard for both of us."

The charity set up by Ian and Dawn is called Red Dreams. It aims to give opportunities to creative youngsters like Kyle by providing resources and a stage for their talent.

This summer will see Dawn and Ian attempt their biggest project so far as they plan to hold an outdoor art festival in Ward Jackson Park. Ian, 38, now works term-time only as a civil servant but Dawn has yet to return to work as a teacher.

"I have tried four times to go back to work but every time I have had to stop. I just can't stand in front of the children," said Dawn, from Lennox Walk, Hartlepool.

"I'm going to try again in September and if that doesn't work I might have to look at doing something else, which doesn't involve children as much."

But the pair keep themselves extremely busy with Red Dreams, which has become much bigger than they ever expected.

"All we wanted to do was just help kids out but it's now become a full time thing and it's really going places," said Dawn.

"We have loads coming up this summer with the festival in the park being the biggest. We are determined to give talent a chance with encouragement, venue hire, recordings and anything else that could give someone a break.

"To be honest it has been a godsend because it is something positive for us to focus on and the support we have been given is fantastic."

The charity's name comes from dreams Kyle had since he was three-years-old when he would have to wake up and write or draw what he had seen, with red a dominant colour in his thoughts.

But despite the charity's success, the loss of Kyle is still at the forefront of the parents minds.

"It's still bitter sweet now having a successful charity in Kyle's memory. I would give it all up in a second to have Kyle back," added Dawn.

The pARTy in the Park will be held in Ward Jackson Park from 11am to 8pm on Saturday, August 30.

To find out other events or to get involved, visit www.reddreams.org.uk or email enquiries@reddreams.org.uk.