A Moray mum is hoping sports car owners will help give her tragic son “the send-off he deserves”.
A search has been launched for blue Subaru vehicles to lead the funeral cortege of seven-year-old Kieran McQuillan.
The young boy died when he was struck by a van while playing in Elgin a little more than a week ago.
A public appeal has raised almost £8,000 to cover the cost of the New Elgin Primary School pupil’s funeral.
And now his loved ones are determined to make sure that the ceremony perfectly reflects Kieran’s personality.
Over the weekend, family friend Marrie Quinn sent out a rallying call online for the owners of blue Subarus to come forward and lead the hearse which will carry Kieran’s coffin.
She specified that she ideally wanted two of the powerful cars, with yellow designs on the side, and that both would need to be in “mint condition”.
The description matches the racing vehicles used by the Subaru World Rally Team.
The message spread far and wide on Facebook, and was seen by people all over Scotland and beyond.
Dylan Ritchie, from Laggan, was the first to answer the appeal.
The 23-year-old will drive his Subaru 70 miles from his home in Badenoch in the Cairngorms National Park to Elgin for the funeral.
Mr Ritchie said: “I’d read about what happened to Kieran in the Press and Journal, but I don’t have any connection to the family.
“Someone told me about the appeal online, and straight away I thought I would do it.
“This obviously means a lot to the family, and contributing seemed like the right thing to do.
“I’ve spoken to Ms Quinn about it and she is really grateful, but I’m just doing what I can to help.”
Mr Ritchie added: “I have owned this car for about a year, but I’ve been driving Subarus ever since I was 18.”
Kieran’s mum, Mary Johnston, later left a message online expressing her gratitude to everyone who had helped spread the message.
She said: “Thank you so much everyone for your kindness, my precious little boy will have the send off he deserves.”
Ms Quinn also set up the appeal to cover the cost of Kieran’s funeral, which last night stood at £7,735.
Almost 300 people pledged money towards it, with one mystery backer making a donation of £2,000.
Kieran was killed at about 5.30pm on Friday, April 7, at Elgin’s Brechan Rig.
Police said he may have been riding his scooter when he was struck by the red Renault Master van.
The 46-year-old driver of the vehicle did not suffer any injuries.
Kieran had celebrated his seventh birthday with his friends only six days before the accident.
Floral tributes quickly piled up near the spot where he was hit, just yards from a playground.
As well as carefully arranged bouquets, teddy bears and candles were placed lovingly at the scene.
It later emerged that Keiran’s death was the second to affect his family in quick succession.
His sister, Calleigh, died when she was just six months old last year.
She was the daughter of his dad, Gavin McQuillan, who stays in Inverness.
Ms Quinn said Kieran was “a very clever boy” who was doing well at school”.
She added: “This has been very tragic. He leaves behind the best mother in the world and his two beautiful younger sisters aged three and one, family and friends.”
