Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, has asked to keep the memorabilia and items left at the massive memorial created by the public outside Staple Center after the death of the Lakers superstar.
The cleanup of flowers, balloons, jerseys, stuffed toys and basketballs began at 4 a.m. on Monday, Staples Center president Lee Zeidman tweeted. A fence was erected around the site to keep the cleanup out of public view.
Fans spontaneously began creating the memorial in a plaza outside the arena as word surfaced that Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people were killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in suburban Calabasas. The memorial kept growing for a week. Personal messages were written on many of the items.
“We will catalog and box up all the non-perishable items like T-shirts, letters, basketballs, other toys, stuffed animals, and we’re going to put them in containers and ship them to Vanessa Bryant and the family,” Zeidman told CNN.
Zeidman tweeted that they had “filled a full 40-yard roll off trash bin with flowers” on Monday.
The flowers will be composted and spread around plants near Staples Center.
“We thought it was a very touching tribute and felt that this would be a way to honour Kobe, Gianna and the seven others who lost their lives as well as the people who spent money to bring those flowers down here,” Zeidman said to the outlet.
By mid-morning Monday, Ziedman said they collected 1,353 basketballs, 12 banners, 25,000 candles, 5000 signs, letters and flags, 500 stuffed animals and around 350 pairs of shoes.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, had requested items, which were to be cataloged and shipped to the family.
Fans were urged to donate to the MambaOnThree Fund, rather than bring more gifts and flowers.
The MambaOnThree Fund “exists to honour and support loved ones of the seven other victims involved in the tragedy that occurred on Jan. 26, 2020,” according to the website.
All funds donated will be directed to the families of Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.
Vanessa posted a tribute to her daughter Gianna on Instagram on Sunday.
“Seeing my babygirl smile and happy again with a basketball under her am, wrapped in love just warmed my heart. Thank you for this,” she captioned her post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8DXJXHD3uY/
—With files from The Associated Press
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