HUNDREDS of pounds has been raised for Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a friend of Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination side VKL United was remembered in a league game earlier this year.
United’s game against Redolence Park was played in memory of Vinay Kishor Ladwa, who passed away in 2013.
Played at Redditch United, entrance to the match was charged and fans made donations throughout the game.
This week, QE confirmed United raised a total just shy of £600 and assistant manager Stephen Spencer said it was great to see so much money had been raised.
“It was a truly memorable event and we can’t thank everyone enough for supporting us and their kind donations,” he said.
“Not only myself but the whole of the team are delighted with the amount we have raised for the QE Hospital.
“To have raised nearly £600 is absolutely fantastic. Like I have said before, this is our way of saying thank you to the QE for all they done for Vinay.
“The support which was given by the QE, not only to Vinay, but to all of us during his time in hospital was incredible.
“To know the event was a success means an awful lot to the football team and to Vinay’s family. It’s a way we can keep Vinay’s memory alive and show everyone what he meant to all of us.”
Vinay was born on January 18, 1989 with a kidney disorder and spent the majority of his life attending Birmingham Children’s Hospital several times a week for his dialysis before being moved to QE at the age of 18.
His condition worsened as he got older which meant he was in dire need of a kidney and liver transplant and, on June 19, 2013, he received news he could undergo the surgery.
Unfortunately, following the transplant, Vinay’s condition took a turn for the worse as he was fighting a chest infection during his recovery, from which he suffered a stroke, leaving him with an aneurysm on the brain.
Despite efforts to remove the aneurysm, it ruptured on September 9, leaving Vinay needing the help of machinery to stay alive.
Just a day later Vinay sadly passed away with his friends and family surrounding him at his bedside.
In honour of Vinay, Stephen and other friends and family got together to set up VKL United in his memory.
