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Summer is kicking off along the Grand Strand! Here is everything you need to know for Memorial Day Weekend
by Amanda Kinseth
Myrtle Beach, S.C. (WPDE) — Community members are raising money to rebuild the Matt Hughes Memorial Skate Park in Myrtle Beach and volunteers are set to clean-up the park Saturday.
It's one woman's effort to keep her brother's legacy alive.
"This here is one of my favorite pictures," said Noel Emily Hughes. "That was the last Christmas with him."
Although time passes, the pain stays from losing her little brother.
"Matt was my everything," said Hughes.
She remembers him through pictures and a poem she wrote.
"When I close my eyes I can still see your face and even hear your voice, realizing our time here is not our choice."
She feels close to him at the skate park built in memory of him. It's a place she used to visit often.
"And just sit and watch the kids skate," she said. "Then it got to the point when I stopped coming because I hated what the skate park had become."
It had become covered with graffiti.
Aaron Frobase is a skateboarder and the recreation leader at Pepper Geddings Recreation Center. He's also part of the cleanup and future rebuild of the Matt Hughes Memorial Skate Park. It's a mission that's been therapeutic for Hughes.
"I'll do whatever I have to do to help and get this park rebuilt for the kids because they need it," said Hughes.
"It gives them a place," said Frobase. "There's a ball field here and a foot ball field there. There are fields over there. But not everyone's a baseball player. Not everyone's a football player."
"Kids need a place to skate," said Hughes.
It's a place where she can find comfort.
"I love you, I miss you and I think of you everyday," Hughes reads her poem. "I know you are looking down on me when I close my eyes and pray."
The Matt Hughes Memorial Skate Park clean-up is Saturday at 10 a.m.
Everyone is welcome.
You can also donate to the rebuild efforts on GoFundMe.com Here's the link: https://www.gofundme.com/matt-hughes-skate-park-rebuild?pc=txt_tw