Denver statue to mark death

John Denver died in a plane crash

An environmental group co-founded by John Denver is raising money to erect a bronze statue of the late singer.

The Windstar Foundation, a non-profit making organisation, was launched by Denver in 1976 to buy and conserve 1,000 acres of land in Snowmass, Colorado, now named Windstar.

The life-sized statue is due to be unveiled at Windstar on 13 October to commemorate the five-year anniversary of Denver's death, during a week of activities to celebrate his life and music.

He was killed at the age of 53 when his twin-engine plane plunged into the sea off the Californian coast.

Denver's 1970s hits included Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Inscription

Now members of the Windstar Foundation want to mark the anniversary of his death with a memorial to be sited on the land he helped save.

Denver fans are being asked to dig deep to help pay for the statue, with the promise of an inscription on a plaque to be placed at the foot of the monument.

The organisation, which was co-founded by martial arts master Thomas Crum, began with the purchase of land in Snowmass to use as a place to promote environmentalism.

It has continued to this day to promote action and individual responsibility for the environment.

Windstar volunteer Doug MacDonald said he hopes the statue will inspire others to care about nature and embrace the ideology of Denver.

The statue has been made by children's books illustrator Sue DiDicco. She has also produced 200 bronze reproductions of the statue to sell to fans, with profits being donated to Windstar.