FRIENDS and family of tragic Aleysha Rothwell rallied together at her former school to remember the “fun-loving” teenager.

Scores of supporters turned out for the fun day at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy in Stitch-Mi-Lane to help boost cash to fund a purple headstone — Aleysha’s favourite colour.

Fellow pupils and parents put on a day filled with games of football, rounders, beauty stalls, a raffle and a fun fair on Sunday, with the help of charity fundraiser Mark Price.

Friends of Aleysha say they are still finding it hard to come to terms with the sudden death of the 16-year-old, but felt the fun day was the “perfect tribute”.

Morgan Pritchard, aged 14, a school friend of Aleysha, said: “We’ve put on all sorts of different things to help raise more money for a headstone.

“It’s still hard and a lot of Aleysha’s mates have taken it quite badly. I think today has been really good and we will have made enough money to pay for the headstone.

“I think Aleysha would have loved it.

“She would have joined in with the football and singing on the karaoke.” Samuel Green, aged 15, added: “Aleysha was one of my best mates and we all just want to make sure she has a really nice headstone. She was always having a laugh and had a smile on her face.

“It was really hard at first when she died but now we want to make her proud. I don’t think she would want us to be sad.”

The pupils are also hoping to plant a garden in her memory in the school grounds.

Aleysha died in April after being found hanged at her foster family’s home in Breightmet.

Her death sparked a campaign for more support for young people with mental health issues in Bolton.

All money raised from the fun day will go towards the headstone on her grave in Tonge Cemetery.