Nottingham attacks victim's mum runs in her memory

The mother of Nottingham attacks victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar has completed the city's half-marathon in her memory.

Sinead O'Malley-Kumar raised funds for the foundation in her daughter's name, launched after she, fellow student Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates were fatally stabbed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023.

On Sunday, Mrs O'Malley-Kumar crossed the finish line of Nottingham's Robin Hood Half Marathon with the support of husband Sanjoy, family and friends.

She said listening to one of her daughter's old playlists helped her complete the race.

"This is the city that Grace was happy in. She spent the happiest year of her life here," Mrs O'Malley-Kumar told the BBC.

The 19-year-old medicine student had been an avid sportswoman, representing England in hockey and playing cricket at county level.

Her mum said: "Obviously I'm very sad Grace died here but we're going to be inextricably linked to Nottingham, not only through Grace and the university but through the Coates family and through all of her friends and the hockey people are here."

The Grace O'Malley-Kumar Foundation was set up with a focus on supporting young people in their academic and sporting endeavours.

While the families of Calocane's victims had continued to deal with a series of reviews related to the case, Mrs O'Malley-Kumar said they were "trying to focus on the positives they could bring".

The family were also supported by James Coates, one of Ian Coates's sons, who said the families of all the victims had "grown quite close" through various meetings and reviews.

Mr O'Malley-Kumar wore a bandana around his neck that his daughter used to wear in her hair during hockey matches.

He said his daughter would have been "proud" to see her mother and others taking part, saying it was an "emotional day".

"Grace was the nicest girl in the world," he added.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.