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“They are an amazing family who would do anything for their friends, neighbors and communities,” the Legends Soccer Club wrote on social media
NEED TO KNOW
- Annie Koester, a fifth grade student from Kansas, died after her family was involved in a car crash on their way to a soccer tournament in Nashville
- The St. Ann Catholic Church and School, where Koester was a student, described her death as a “heartbreaking loss”
- Her family now faces “a long road to recovery in the weeks and months ahead,” a friend wrote in a GoFundMe established after Koester’s death
A fifth grader has died after she was involved in a car crash while traveling to a soccer tournament.
Annie Koester was on her way to Nashville for the sporting event on July 15 when she and her family were “involved in a tragic car accident,” the Legends Soccer Club said in a news release issued on Sunday, July 19.
“In the days since the accident, the family has experienced an unimaginable loss with the passing of their daughter Annie, #8,” the release read, adding, “We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Koester family and to all who knew and loved Annie.”
The tribute went on to described the Koesters as “an amazing family who would do anything for their friends, neighbors and communities” and “a valued part of [the] club for many years.”
Additional details about the accident were not readily available. However, the club noted that the rest of the family faced “a long road to recovery in the weeks and months ahead.”
The St. Ann Catholic Church and School in Kansas City, Kan. — where Koester was a student — also confirmed her death in a statement. The school invited the community to a mass on Sunday to “pray for the repose of Annie’s soul and for God’s comfort and peace to surround her family.”
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“We are deeply grateful to everyone who has kept Annie and the Koester family in your prayers,” the organization wrote. “As a faith community, we mourn this heartbreaking loss together.”
A GoFundMe has since been created by a family friend to support the Koesters as they mourn and heal. It has raised more than $142,000 of its $160,000 goal as of publication time. Alec Bethurum, the organizer, described the family as “the very best of us.”
“They are an amazing family who would do anything for their friends, neighbors and communities,” he wrote in the fundraiser’s description. “They have always been there for others, and now we have the opportunity to be there for them.”
“The Koesters may never ask for assistance, and they may feel that they do not need us, but that should not stop us from showing them how deeply they are loved and supported,” he added. “A serious accident can bring significant and unexpected expenses, including medical care, rehabilitation, travel, lodging, meals, time away from work, and many other needs during the recovery process.”
Read the original article on People
