Matthew Junior Maybin tragedy: Balloons released as touching tribute to honour MJ's life
A cloud of balloons - blue, like the colour of his eyes - was launched into the sky to loud applause at the exact moment and precise spot where he had died the previous week.
Seconds later a sudden downpour swept the Wolverhampton cul-de-sac in which three year old Matthew Junior Maybin - MJ - was fatally injured in a collision with a Transit Tipper.
His father 28-year-old Matthew Brough confided afterwards: "I don't believe in God but when the rain poured down so soon after the balloons had been released I thought it was tears from heaven."
In a remarkable show of support almost 200 neighbours and friends joined the family outside their home in Keats Road, The Scotlands where a wall of flowers, condolence cards and cuddly toys marks the place where the accident happened on August 20.
The community has joined together in an astonishing way to help Matthew, his 30-year-old partner Vicky Mabin and their daughters - Brodie aged nine and six year old Lola-May - through the first painful days of their grief.
See also: 'We will never get over losing MJ': Parents tell of heartbreak at death of their 'happy chap'
Thousands of pounds have been raised to help with the cost of the funeral and eight makeshift tents lined the street selling hot drinks, raffle tickets, bottles of drink donated by a local supermarket and home made cakes. City centre shops gave unsolicited prizes free of charge.
Stacey Dixon, aged 25, closed her Party Angels business in nearby Cannock Road for the day to concentrate on providing the balloons - £1-a-time with the money going to the same cause - each with a tag displaying a picture of MJ against a background of his favourite Paw Patrol, produced free of charge.
Neighbour Debbie Woodley, a 34-year-old mother of three who performed CPR on MJ until paramedics reached the scene, started a Go Fund page on Facebook with the intention of raising £2,000 for the funeral. Four days later the figure topped £2,450.
MJ's father Matthew confessed: "I don't think we could have got through the past few days without the support of our family and the Scotlands estate. They made us strong."
Vicky added: "It has been overwhelming and provided us with some much needed comfort. We cannot thank them enough. I was astonished by how many turned out for the balloon launch and stunned by the number of firms and shops that have offered assistance. We did not ask for any of this but are tremendously grateful."
Matthew, who lives in Fourth Avenue, Low Hill, explained: "It was a heartbreaking when the balloons went up knowing what had happened and what we had lost exactly a week earlier but the fact so many people gave up their time to share the moment with us, made it easier for us to bear."
Rev Graham Smith, team vicar of Bushbury parish, who climbed onto a wall to deliver a short prayer before the balloons were released, said: "I knew this was a community that pulled together in a time of need but the way it has behaved on this occasion has exceeded all my expectations."
Details of MJ's funeral are still being finalised by his family who are treating the fatality as a tragic accident for which nobody was to blame. The driver of the vehicle involved was a relative.
