The families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, two girls tragically killed in November 2024 by methanol poisoning, have banded together to start a GoFundMe to raise awareness of the danger and to honour their memories.
Holly and Bianca were best friends, described as “vibrant” and “adventurous” by their families.
The two friends travelled to Thailand and Laos on a “trip of a lifetime”. However, tragically, their journey was cut short as both fell victim to methanol poisoning. The Laos government has stated that it was “profoundly saddened” by the deaths of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng. There are now six victims of the suspected methanol poisoning incident which took place in Vang Vieng — a popular backpacker city in Laos.
And so, in response to this tragedy, the families are working to raise awareness of the dangers with the GoFundMe page. The target is $500K and (at the time of writing) has raised over $340K or 68 per cent of its goal.
“We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity you have shown in supporting our campaign in memory of Bianca and Holly. Your contributions, kind words, and willingness to share their story have inspired us beyond measure,” the two families said in a statement.
“Every dollar raised will go towards making a lasting impact and ensuring that their story saves lives. We’re so grateful for your support and hope you’ll continue to stand with us as we work towards this larger goal.”
The funds will be used in a myriad of ways. First, to relieve the financial burdens of both families — including the repatriation of Holly and Bianca. Second, they will be used to support existing education and prevention initiatives. And third, the funds will be used to finance awareness campaigns about the dangers of methanol poisoning.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the poisoning of Bianca and Holly, in addition to the other victims. The ABC reports that Laos authorities have detained eight employees of the Nana Hostel where the two women were staying. Investigations are ongoing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) is supporting the family of a third Australian who may also have suffered methanol poisoning.
For more information, head to the GoFundMe page.
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