The Yasmine McClory Foundation launched in memory of Sutton-on-Trent woman, 20

After the sudden a tragic death of their beloved daughter and sister, a Newark family have created a non-profit in her name hoping to make a difference in the community.

Yasmine McClory, of Sutton-on-Trent, passed away suddenly earlier this year aged just 20 years old, and her parents and sisters have launched the The Yasmine McClory Foundation to help causes close to her heart.

Yasmine became ill very suddenly in the afternoon of February 21, vomiting and losing her balance, so her parents video-called her sister Jess, 27, who is studying to be a nurse, who advised them to take Yasmine to the Urgent Care Centre at Newark Hospital.

She deteriorated quickly and was struggling to breathe before she then had a seizure, going into cardiac arrest shortly after, and she was transferred to Lincoln County Hospital, with her family following.

Tragically, multiple attempts to resuscitate Yasmine were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 8.15pm that evening, just four hours after first showing symptoms.

It has emerged that Yasmine was 10 weeks pregnant at the time, and she died of a pulmonary embolism from a clot that originated in her leg, likely the result of the pregnancy.

Jess said that her death was “earth-shattering” for their family, and while they have good days and bad days, sometimes they feel in denial that they’ll never laugh at her silly antics or have lively discussions about subjects she was passionate about again.

“Yasmine was one of the kindest, most selfless people you would ever meet,” Jess said, “Donating to a variety of causes, taking in people when they had nowhere else to go, offering support in times of crisis, and making sure businesses were held accountable for their actions.”

Yasmine’s funeral was held at Sutton-on Trent’s All Saints Church and was attended by hundreds of people, including her colleagues at PGL in Caythorpe.

As well as offering friends and family the chance to place a painted hand print on her coffin before her funeral, attendees at the service were invited to write messages to Yasmine on wooden hearts.

At her wake, rainbow-coloured shots were offered to all on entry, and the room was filled with balloons and photos of Yasmine.

“It was a celebration of who she was,” Jess said, “It was bittersweet but I wouldn’t have changed anything about it at all.”

Her family has now formed a non-profit in her memory - The Yasmine McClory Foundation - with mum Annelie, dad Jason, and siblings Jess and Ev, 17, all on board to keep Yasmine and her legacy alive.

The Foundation supports causes Yasmine was passionate about, including food poverty, LGBTQ+ mental health, children with learning disabilities, and medical conditions affecting quality of life.

Jess said that upon learning that there are now more food banks in the UK than McDonald’s branches, Yasmine was determined to help end food poverty, so one of the Foundation’s first projects is to create a mini farm to grow fresh produce for local food banks on their donated acres of land and allotment.

There are also plans in the pipeline to help bridge the gap in healthcare between children and adults for teenagers and those in their early 20s, as some symptoms - like those of pulmonary embolisms - present differently in people aged between 18 and 24.

Yasmine was also passionate about equal opportunities for children with SEND, Jess said, and when she heard that a child at a local school was not able to attend a day at PGL where she worked due to her additional needs and lack of funding, she insisted on hosting the pupil herself and gave the child an incredible day out.

Now, the Foundation hope to fundraise to provide funding so that pupils with SEND are able to attend day and overnight trips to outdoor pursuits centres with the additional support they need.

You can read more about the Foundation at https://www.yasminemccloryfoundation.org.uk/

“That’s what’s keeping us going - Yas isn’t here, so we’re going to do these things for her,” Jess added.

Yasmine’s boyfriend Mark Henry has already taken on a tough fundraiser in his partner’s memory, tackling the challenging Tough Mudder at Belvoir Castle on Sunday July 7 in just 1 hour 11 minutes and raising £600.

And now, to mark what would have been Yasmine’s 21st birthday on September 22, her family will be hosting 'Yasfest' - a mini music festival to celebrate Yasmine, as music has always been a big part of her life – singing in bands from a young age, learning to play numerous instruments over the years, and studying at the prestigious Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies.

Yasfest will be held at Sutton On Trent sports club from 1pm onwards and will give local musicians an opportunity to perform and get their music out into the public sphere, as well as raising money for the foundation's activities, with the entry fees going towards the Foundations’ work.

“It seems fitting that we celebrate her with lots of noise and joy,” Jess added.

Further details on Yasfest will be announced at a later date.