West Brom leads tributes to tragic Kristie after 22-year-old's sudden death
A mother devastated by the sudden death of her 22-year-old has been touched by the many tributes, including one from her daughter's favourite football club.
West Bromwich Albion paid their respects to Kristie Rose Rogers, who was an avid fan and a talented footballer herself, with a round of applause in the fifth minute of their game against Everton at the Hawthorns.
Kristie's mother Andrea Billingham was also overwhelmed when she received a letter with condolences from the club's head coach Tony Pulis.
It was after struggling with depression, that Kristie took her own life in July at her home in Rowley Regis.
At her funeral more than 500 people turned up, with most wearing a Baggies shirt and created a huge procession down to the crematorium.
Andrea said: "She was a big Albion fan. She always played football – for the Brierley Hill Bullets and the Stourbridge Ladies. It was her passion."
On the morning before the match, Andrea along with a group of Kristie's cousins and friends took part in the Birmingham Colour Run.
They raised nearly £2,500 to go towards a new charity they are setting up – the Kristie Rose Foundation.
The tragedy has brought Kristie's family and friends even closer, with one of her best mates Jordan Goodridge doing all she can to promote the charity.
Jordan is currently out in Mzimba, Malawi, helping disadvantaged children with both physical and mental disabilities.
It was a trip she had been due to take with Kristie and is now undertaking in her memory.
She is even helping to set up the Kristie Rose Children's Centre out there.
Establishing this will be the initial focus of the charity, with many more fundraising events planned, including Stourbridge Ladies taking part in a half marathon.
Her mother hopes to raise funds through the foundation to help those suffering with their mental health.
Andrea said: "I feel that there is nothing out there for people who are desperate. I took Kristie to the doctors 13 days previously, but they just tried to give her tablets.
"She needed someone to talk to.
"It is the most devastating thing to have happened. My life will never be the same again. I'm not doing a day at a time, I'm just trying an hour at a time.
"The grief is phenomenal. It is something no-one should experience.
"I want to make sure that Kristie's memory lives on. She was here for a reason.
"Kristie was the most beautiful, talented, inspirational person, so loving and kind to everybody else. Nobody ever knew of her sadness.
"She was such a character. She was hilariously funny, and lit up any room that she walked into."
Kristie's nan Susan Whitehead added: "She was so loving and kind. She was hilarious. But it was a mask."
For more details visit the Kristie Rose Foundation Facebook page.
