Tournament to mark tragedy's tenth anniversary

The family and friends of Paul Skyes are staging a charity golf day to mark the tenth anniversary of his collapse and tragic death while playing for Ryman South Folkestone Invicta.

The popular forward, pictured, was taken ill with a heart condition at Cheriton Road on April 12, 2005, an hour into a Kent Senior Cup semi-final against his former club Margate.

Despite the best efforts of Invicta physio Dave Williams, paramedics and doctors to revive him, he passed away later aged 28 at The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Since then his family and friends have been fundraising for the charity CRY, Cardiac Research in the Young. The charity has been in the spotlight since the 2012 collapse and subsequent recovery of former Bolton star Fabrice Muambo in an FA Cup tie against Spurs and subsequent efforts by the Football Association and the British Heart Foundation to equip Non-League clubs at Steps 1-5 with subsidised defibrillators.

This season the striker’s widow Carly and the late striker's long-time friend Sean Hyder are organising a fundraising tournament for CRY to continue its work at the Weald of Kent Golf Club in Headcorn on Thursday 16 April.

Carly said: “We are holding the golf day not only to celebrate Paul’s life but also to raise some money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.”

For more information on taking part or sponsoring the event email: carlysykesblowers@gmail.com.

For more information on CRY visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk

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