The mother of a six-year-old girl who died on a family holiday in Turkey is launching a therapy workshop for other parents who are suffering after the loss of a child.

Elli Galvani, 53, of Fencepiece Road in Barkingside, set up Eden’s Trust in 2007 following the death of her daughter Eden the previous year.

The trust achieved charitable status in 2010, and now Elli is launching Begin to Heal, a free workshop at Wanstead House.

Eden died after a gas canister exploded while children were dancing in an event at the resort where she was staying with her mum and 28-year-old sister, Joanne.

A waiter at the resort had set a trail of methane from the canister to form a wall of fire as a stunt, but it exploded sending a ball of fire directly into Eden’s chest.

Elli said: “I had gone to look at some properties because we were considering buying a place in Turkey.

“I had Eden late in life and was very protective of her and didn’t really want to leave her, but Joanne kept telling me not to be silly.

“I had a bad feeling, but I went anyway and within 20 minutes the phone rang.

“It was someone at the resort. I just said ‘What’s happened to Eden?’ Because I knew immediately something was wrong.

“They said there’s been an explosion and Eden has been burnt, she’s in hospital.

“I just remember dropping the phone and screaming. Someone – I don’t even know who, a stranger – jumped in the hire car and got me to the hospital.”

Elli endured a horrific two days being ferried between hospitals with little Eden who suffered 70 per cent burns.

She said: “She was in and out of consciousness and covered from head to toe in bandages.

“She kept on screaming ‘mummy please don’t let me die.’”

The waiter and the manager of the resort were subsequently charged and found guilty of causing death by actionable negligence, but escaped prison sentences, a judgement which Elli is still fighting.

Elli initially set up Eden’s Trust to promote health and safety abroad, but in 2010 she decided to seek charitable status and branch out to provide support to other bereaved parents.

She said: “After Eden died I found that people didn’t know how to behave around me.

“For example, I found neighbours didn’t know how to cope. Some of them would drop their heads and cross the street to avoid me.

“I was offered bereavement support by the doctors, but nothing really cut it for me.

“What Eden went through kills me, it will always kill me. I would suffer a million times the pain she suffered in her place if I could.

“But I have learned to live with the void.

“The groups are to assist parents in understanding their own grief process and to provide a safe and supportive place once a week to express themselves freely and feel gently guided in their thinking.

“This process will empower them to incorporate resourceful behaviours and thinking patterns that can improve everyday coping strategies.”

The 12-week programme of guided workshops begin at Wanstead House on June 6 at 7pm. There is no charge. For more info email info@edenstrust.org.uk