Bereaved Billesdon mum to help others through crash charity

Reece Beesley (left) died in a motorbike crash in 2019

A Leicestershire mum who lost her son in a crash five years ago is calling for families who have suffered similar bereavements to seek support.

Dee Beesley's son, Reece, was riding a motorbike when he was killed in 2019, aged 19.

She said she was "thrown into a world of unknowns" after his death.

Mrs Beesley, 62, is now co-ordinating the East Midlands branch of the charity RoadPeace to help other bereaved families.

Reece had been to two interviews and was "just building his life" on the day of the crash, Mrs Beesley said.

"I was so, so proud of Reece," she said.

"To see him develop and change into the young man he had become was just so nice.

"I just feel he was cheated. I felt, 'why Reece? He's just starting his life'."

Mrs Beesley, from Billesdon, said her son was an "unbelievable" motorcyclist and was due to work a shift at the Premier Inn at East Midlands Airport when the crash happened.

Reece Beesley's mum said she was "so proud" of her son

"I got a knock on the door from the police and it was at that point that my relationship with the world and everyone in it changed," she said.

"As a mum, everything was taken out of my control. All of a sudden I was thrown into a world of unknowns and not knowing what was happening.

"I didn't know what to do, I didn't know where to turn."

She was persuaded to seek help through RoadPeace - the national charity for road crash victims in the UK - and attended meetings with the West Midlands Branch online during the pandemic.

"I'm not sure how it happened, but somebody in the office got somebody to check in with me and that just meant the world that somebody cared," she said.

"We all know what each other has been through and that is just invaluable."

Mrs Beesley said the charity asked her to co-ordinate the East Midlands group, covering Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

"Given how many road deaths there are, there must be people out there needing help," she said.

"If I can just reach one or two people - I'd love it to be hundreds - but the reality is start small and hopefully we can grow the group."

Nick Simmons, chief executive of RoadPeace, told the BBC: "She is an amazing woman and we are so grateful for everything she does to support the charity and road crash victims."