A FOUNDATION set up in memory of a teenager killed in a skiing accident is about to make its first donations to deserving causes.

Organisations dedicated to supporting the homeless, children with special needs and young carers will be the first beneficiaries of the Louis Ross Foundation.

Louis, 17, died after colliding into safety netting while on holiday with a friend’s family in the French ski resort of Meribel just before Christmas last year.

His grieving family decided to set up the foundation due to the incredible support they received from their friends and from Louis’ friends.

It has already raised £65,000 and now they are inviting applications to support young people in difficulty.

Louis lived in Tarrant Keyneston, near Blandford, with his parents, Penny and John, and sisters, Gabriella, 23, and Olivia, 22.

He attended Sturminster Marshall First School, St Michael’s Middle in Colehill, Castle Court prep school and Canford School, where he was a lower sixth A level student at the time of his death.

Penny and John said they have been overwhelmed by the support and initiative shown by others for raising funds, particularly from Louis’s young friends .

Events have included a ‘Lids for Louis’ mass haircut, a Tough Mudder, a dinner party, Lipsync evening, golf day, quiz, mini-fest and a whole school walk by Canford.

It has taken several months to formally establish the foundation, which has a working party which includes Penny and John along with friends Paul Barlow, Emma Wimhurst and Catherine Ephgrave.

Now they are keen to hear from people who need their help. They have stressed that applications must be for specific needs and not just for donations to go into a “bigger pot.”

The first groups to receive cash will be Faithworks Wessex, which will receive £5,000 to fund a one-month extension to its Sleepsafe project and Beaucroft special school in Colehill will get £5,000 to buy play equipment.

There will also be a donation of £4,000 to fund outings and social events for Poole Young Carers.

Penny, who teaches at Sturminster Marshall First School, and John, a London-based Audit Director for Prudential, said many of Louis’ friends told them how he helped those less fortunate than himself, including donating to homeless people and supporting fellow school pupils in difficulty.

“We found out about these things after he died” said Penny. “We don’t want to paint him as a saint because he wasn’t - he was an ordinary teenage boy - but it inspired us to set up the foundation.”

John added: “We wanted to do something to keep alive his name and his spirit and what he stood for.”

Anyone who wishes to apply or to make a donation can do so via the foundations, website, louisross.org