Fundraiser in memory of crash tragedy teen

An annual music and football tournament in memory of a teenager tragically killed in a motorbike accident is set to return for its seventh year. Tom Heath, 28, from New Marske, organises the event in tribute to his brother, Matthew Heath, and to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). GNAAS attended the scene of Matthew’s collision between Dunsdale and Guisborough in 2008 when he was aged 18, but he sadly died of his injuries. The family fun day will be held at New Marske Sports Club and teams will compete to win the Matthew Heath Memorial Trophy in an eleven-a-side football tournament on September 12. Local DJs and MCs will play from 12pm until midnight and there will be a bouncy castle, food and drinks, as well as an iPad Mini 3 up for grabs after it was donated by Stormfront in Middlesbrough. Tom, a father-of-two, has so far raised around £25,000 for GNAAS through his fundraisers which include race nights, Boxing Day dips and a bungee jump. The engineer at SSI Steel UK in Teesside, said: “It’s always hard around this time of year, but the event provides a focus and a chance for everyone that knew Matthew to come together and raise a glass in his memory. “The football tournament has been going since 2009 and hundreds of people now turn out, which is a testament to the person that Matthew was. “It’s set to be a great day for all the family.

An annual music and football tournament in memory of a teenager tragically killed in a motorbike accident is set to return for its seventh year.

Tom Heath, 28, from New Marske, organises the event in tribute to his brother, Matthew Heath, and to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

GNAAS attended the scene of Matthew’s collision between Dunsdale and Guisborough in 2008 when he was aged 18, but he sadly died of his injuries.

The family fun day will be held at New Marske Sports Club and teams will compete to win the Matthew Heath Memorial Trophy in an eleven-a-side football tournament on September 12.

Local DJs and MCs will play from 12pm until midnight and there will be a bouncy castle, food and drinks, as well as an iPad Mini 3 up for grabs after it was donated by Stormfront in Middlesbrough.

Tom, a father-of-two, has so far raised around £25,000 for GNAAS through his fundraisers which include race nights, Boxing Day dips and a bungee jump.

The engineer at SSI Steel UK in Teesside, said: “It’s always hard around this time of year, but the event provides a focus and a chance for everyone that knew Matthew to come together and raise a glass in his memory.

“The football tournament has been going since 2009 and hundreds of people now turn out, which is a testament to the person that Matthew was.

“It’s set to be a great day for all the family. There will be many different styles of music and plenty going on so we hope lots of people get involved.

“A big thank you to Dan Wilkinson for organising the music, the sports club for allowing us to stage the event there every year, Stormfront for the donation of the iPad and Robert’s Family Butchers for their hamper contributions too.”

Grahame Pickering of GNAAS, said: “Tom has fundraised tirelessly for GNAAS and it is a remarkable tribute to his late brother, Matthew. It is truly inspirational and the money raised will go towards saving lives in the region.”

Tickets are £10 and can be purchased on the day.

Pictured is Rizwan Naeem of Stormfront Middlesbrough, doctor Simon Le Clerc, pilot Keith Armatege, paramedic Paul Burnage and GNAAS chief executive Grahame Pickering, along with Tom Heath, his fiancée Nicola Grainger and their two children, Joseph aged 7 and Jacob aged 2.

by Araminta Hartley

July the 24th, 2015