England 'keeper Joe Hart backs Think Amy campaign (From This is The West Country)

England 'keeper Joe Hart backs Think Amy campaign

1:40pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Phil Hill

ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart is supporting a road safety campaign in memory of a 13-year-old Taunton cyclist killed by a speeding car.

Hart, who won the Premier League title with Manchester City last season, backs the Think Amy initiative to encourage drivers to slow down.

Jane Hofmeister set up the initiative after her daughter, Amy, died when a speeding car ploughed into her as she cycled along Blackbrook Way, Taunton, in June last year.

Mrs Hofmeister contacted the footballer through Rachell Crew, her training boss at Blackbrook Pavilion, whose sister-in-law is dating him.

Mrs Hofmeister said: “He’s agreed for me to use his name and I’m hoping to meet him in Manchester next month. I’m organising a football tournament, Play for Amy, next summer and it would be great if Joe could come down.”

Mrs Hofmeister hopes one of the two drivers who caused Amy’s death by dangerous driving could have her prison sentence lengthened.

She has appealed against the 18-month sentence given to Leanne Burnell, 21, of Bishop’s Hull, after she was found guilty at trial.

The case will be heard at the Court of Appeal in London on Wednesday, October 24.

Burnell was racing her former boyfriend, Leonard Jones, who was driving the car that hit Amy and was jailed for seven years after admitting the same offence.