Nikki Grahame fans raise nearly £70,000 as GoFundMe page reopened to help pay for funeral costs
Additional funds will go towards an organisation supporting people with eating disorders
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Your support makes all the difference.A GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for Nikki Grahame’s eating disorder treatment has been reopened to help pay for funeral costs.
The Big Brother star died of complications from anorexia aged 38 on Friday (9 April), weeks after a GoFundMe page was set up by her friends to raise money for the treatment.
In the wake of her death, the page has been re-activated, with the money raised going towards Grahame’s funeral costs and a charity supporting people with eating disorders.
An update on the page, written by Grahame’s close friends Carly Cunningham and Leon Dee, reads: “We just wanted to let you know that we are turning donations back on anyone that would like to make a donations back on anyone that would like to make a donation in Nikki’s memory, as lots of people have been asking if they can still donate.”
They explained: “An amount will be used for the funeral costs and the remaining funds will be used to go towards an organisation that helps those suffering with eating disorders, the critical funding that has been lacking to help people in these awful situations has not been addressed, we will use this money to the best of our ability to try and stem this horrific, debilitating illness.
“We also would like to thank people who have sent private messages with lovely words about Nikki, she would be so thankful.”
News of Grahame’s death was announced on the same GoFundMe page on Saturday (10 April).
“It is with great sadness, we have to let you know that our dear friend Nikki passed away in the early hours of Friday 9th April,” a statement read.
“It breaks our hearts to know that someone who is so precious was taken from us at such a young age,” it continued. “Nikki not only touched the lives of millions of people, but also her friends and family who will miss her immensely.”
Dee asked for “privacy at this difficult time while Nikki’s friends and family process the sad news”.
Grahame appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother, which aired on Channel 4 in 2006. She gained popularity for her frequent temper tantrums and relationship with eventual winner, Pete Bennett.
The TV personality opened up about her experience of anorexia in two books, 2009’s Dying to Be Thin, and Fragile, which was published in 2012.
For anyone struggling with the issues raised in this piece, eating disorder charity Beat’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677.
NCFED offers information, resources and counselling for those suffering from eating disorders, as well as their support networks. Visit eating-disorders.org.uk or call 0845 838 2040.