THE recent passing of Queanbeyan footballer and father-of-three Jay Lasscock has left his family struggling to pick up the pieces.
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Wife Samantha and her three young children are currently facing a difficult time, living in a partially-renovated house without husband Jay's income and skills to finish off the family home they purchased in 2009.
The Queanbeyan Age is now putting out the call to skilled tradesmen and local businesses to help the Lasscocks finish the major renovations and provide a safe and comfortable home for Jay and Sam's kids, Cooper, Mia and Harper.
Jay's dad Colin Lasscock told the Age that Jay was the bread-winner for his young family, and father and son had been knocking off jobs one by one until Jay's untimely passing in September.
"It's not quite finished. We were waiting on some of his football money to come through and we were going to paint it, and then when he had a little bit of extra money we were going to finish a few bits and pieces inside."
However many of the remaining jobs required skilled tradesmen, he said.
"With the painting, it's got to be done properly, because a lot of the old existing stuff has to be rubbed back to bare timber, so it's not just a matter of coming in and slapping on a coat of paint. Otherwise we would have done it already. It's a major job."
Jay's football club the Queanbeyan Blues has also come to the family's aid, and in conjunction with the Belconnen United Scholars has raised money for the Lasscocks.
"Through the football club they've raised $11,000 which is just amazing," Samantha Lasscock said.
"I've just got that sitting in an account. I don't know whether to use that on the house, or put it away for the kids when they're older."
However there are still a number of outstanding jobs that the family need help with, including:
- sanding and painting on the outside of the house
- some carpentry work in the laundry
- glass work and decking around the back deck
- some painting inside the house
- connecting up the stormwater on the extension to the main stormwater
- decking out the front of the house
- concreting of the driveway-
- new colorbond fencing along the side of the house
Next-door neighbour Donna Flack has also been working hard to help the family, door knocking a number of local businesses and securing some badly-needed items, including a new bed from Fantastic Furniture.
"I was hoping that local tradesman could offer their services, material and time so that Sam doesn't have to part with anything, because she needs it for the kids," Ms Flack said.
Jay's work mates from Essential Energy have also offered their skills to install some new wiring in the house.
"Most of the community has been really good," Colin Lasscock said.
"Sam just needs a bit more help to get things finished. We're really hoping that local tradies can get in and get it finished," he said.
"The idea is that the kids will have this house," Samantha Lasscock said. "That's all I've got to worry about now, making sure that they've got everything that they need."
* The Queanbeyan Age invites local tradesman or suppliers who are willing to help the Lasscocks to phone next-door neighbour Donna Flack on 0408 248 266 or 6297 0046. Financial donations to the Lasscock family trust fund would also be gratefully accepted.