Foundation to spread ‘magic of dance’ in Southport victim’s memory

The parents of a Southport attack victim have said they want to “spread the magic” of dance to other children with a foundation set up in the name of their daughter who “loved dancing”.

Alice Aguiar was murdered alongside Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and six-year-old Bebe King at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on 29 July last year.

Alexandra and Sergio Aguiar said Alice’s Wonderdance will fund after school clubs, dance outfits and university funding.

Mr Aguiar, who ran the London Marathon to raise money for a playground at Alice’s former school, told BBC Breakfast he was going to run six more marathons to raise money for the foundation and take Alice’s name “across the world”.

He said he will start the challenge in Berlin and then run marathons in Chicago, New York, Boston and Tokyo and finish off in London all in memory of Alice.

“Everything I can do, I’m going to do… in her name,” he said.

Mrs Aguiar said the new foundation’s logo features pink ballet shoes to represent Alice’s “non-stop dancing”, which she started enjoying at about 16 months, and a magic wand “to spread the magic”.

She said the foundation was “created in the name of Alice just to show everyone how wonderful Alice was”.

She added: “We just want to provide fun for children in the world of dance.”

The couple said they are getting support for the project from Elsie and Bebe’s family who have also set up charities – Elsie’s Story and Bebe’s Hive – in their daughters’ names.

Mr Aguiar said: “We work together as a team… try to help each other.”

His wife added their help and support was “everything”.

He completed the London Marathon in April having only started running in January to raise money for a new playground and library at Churchtown Primary School dedicated to Alice and Bebe.

It will include a stage in memory of the two girls who were pupils there.

Sarah Buck, a family friend, who is helping with the foundation, praised the Southport community for getting behind Alice’s Wonderdance.

“Everyone in the community is really excited to get involved,” she said.

She said: “Alice’s WonderDance is a foundation we created in the name of Alice just to show everyone how wonderful Alice was.

“We just want to provide fun for children in the world of dance.”