I’m delighted to be able to tell you that, we shall once again be celebrating this terrific event for our young people, in memory of my dear son.

As I’m sure most of you will now well know, on the 10th March 2004 our wonderful son Adam, tragically and without any warning, collapsed and died whilst playing in a local five-a-side tournament with his friends.

He was 26.

At that time, working on a suggestion made originally by Steve Hill (Sussex School Sports Coordinator) and Simon Bunn, one of Adam’s close friends, plus his peers and friends from schooldays, we, with his extended family and his many good friends, decided that the best memorial to a young, fit man, so full of life, would be a living memorial.

Therefore contributions were made that provided for a Memorial Cup and Trophy in Adam’s name which are presented to the winning team from an annual football match between the two Schools/Sixth Form Colleges in East Grinstead; Sackville, which Adam attended, and Imberhorne which many of his friends attended.

Both teams receive commemorative medals, normally presented by our Town Mayor and also, hopefully as last year, by our own local MP Mims Davies.

The event is increasingly heavily supported, particularly by the young people of the Town. All are very welcome.

It is a very joyous celebration!

This is to say a personal thank you to those who contributed to this living memorial, who continue to make it happen each year and to let you know that the 19th annual match will take place on Thursday 19th October at the East Grinstead Town F.C. ground.

Once again, at the match we shall be looking to promote and seek, entirely voluntary, contributions to CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young.

CRY was founded in 1995 to raise awareness of conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD); Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS, SADS), in the young and I would encourage you to visit their website:- https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/

We still lose far too many of our lovely young people, every year, to undiagnosed heart conditions!

Those of you that can make it, I would like to warmly invite you to join us there to cheer on the two young teams, as we remember Adam and those other young people that have fallen victim.

For more information, please refer to Adam’s website:- http://adamdabell.net/ and that of EGTFC to whom we continue to be hugely grateful for their support of this match:- https://www.egtfc.co.uk/

I would reiterate, All are most welcome to come along.

Very kind regards,

John Dabell