Friends united with football match and raise thousands for mental health charity in memory of Dundee dad Lee
A football match and lunch held in memory of a tragic Dundee dad has helped raise more than £3,000 for a mental health charity.
Friends and family of Lee Welsh descended on North End Park for a game in his memory.
The 27-year-old was found dead last year at his home on Peddie Street.
More than £1,000 was raised for the Dundee Association of Mental Health (DAMH) at the game on Saturday in addition to money generated from a soup and pudding lunch held the week previous.
The event was organised by Lee’s childhood friend, Steve Martin, 27. The pair played football for Fairmuir Boys and about 30 of Lee’s pals formed two teams for the game.
Lee’s dad Phil – who has actively raised awareness about mental health issues among young people since his son’s death – was thrilled with the turnout and the money raised. He said: “It really was an absolutely brilliant day. At first we were thinking ‘are people going to come along’ but the support was fantastic.
“It was a positive day, not a negative day and it’s important for us to keep raising awareness that we desperately need a crisis centre in Dundee.
“I’d like to thank everyone who came out and contributed to the day.
“Dundee North End were absolutely fantastic with us, they laid on food and their facilities and gave us a whack of money.
“We’re still to total everything up but it looks like we’re over the £3,000 mark which is brilliant.
“We’re looking to see if we can try and do this on an annual basis.
“It’s all about looking to the future now in raising money for the mental health charities and if we do get a crisis centre then we will be hoping to raise money for that.
“The whole day was great and it just shows you what you can achieve when you get people together.”
Link to Telegraph article here