Hundreds of people gathered once more as a charity football match was held in memory of an inspirational teenager.
Relatives and friends of popular Lowestoft youngster Rory Davies were among those who turned out to watch the annual match last week.
They joined together to take part in a minute's applause in honour of the much-loved Benjamin Britten Music Academy – formerly Benjamin Britten High School – student, who died in March 2011 aged 15 after bravely fighting brain and spinal cancer, and remembered him during the keenly-contested match.
Following his death, people in the Lowestoft area rallied round to help raise money in his memory, with thousands of pounds donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust. They included his father, Andy Davies, who tackled the gruelling Three Peaks challenge, scaling Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike to raise thousands for the teenage cancer unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, where Rory was treated.
Last Wednesday, May 3, the Rory Davies memorial charity football match was held at Walmer Road – home of Kirkley and Pakefield FC – as students in Year 11 and Year 10 at Benjamin Britten battled it out.
Rory, who loved football, music and earned a black belt in the martial art Kuk Sool Won, was fondly remembered on the night as £740 was raised. This money will be sent to the Teenage Cancer Trust, which is supported by the Davies family.
With the memorial match held each year, the event has now raised thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity.
Match organiser Bryan David, a teaching assistant at the academy in Blyford Road, said: 'Once again it all went really well. We raised £740 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which is a great result. About 200 people attended and it is great that a game between two teams from the school over the past few years has raised more than £8,000 - its phenomenal.'
Organisers said they were grateful to Kirkley and Pakefield for the use of its facilities, the referee and officials for giving up their time to officiate, all the Benjamin Britten students who took part and all the people who turned up and gave so generously on the night.
The Year 11 side triumphed 3-1 and the winners were presented with the memorial cup by Rory's younger brother Max.
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