Football fundraiser in memory of Ben Smith

A football fundraiser in memory of Melksham teenager Ben Smith will return on Sunday 3rd May at Melksham Town Football Club.

Ben died nearly four years ago after being assaulted on a night out in Bath. Following his death, his family have been holding a regular football fundraiser in his memory, raising funds for three charities that supported them at the time.

The charities include the Ben Saunders Foundation, which raises money for children and young adults with cancer; SmileForJoel, which supports families affected by murder and terrorism; and One Punch UK, which raises awareness of the devastation a single punch can cause. Last year’s event raised nearly £7,000 for the three charities.

The event will feature a friendly match between two teams – The Bee’s Knees, which was Ben’s old football team, and his brother’s team, The Fat Heads. There will also be post-match entertainment by The Singing Herdsman, refreshments, a raffle and an auction.

Ben’s mum Rachel said, “Not a day goes by that we don’t remember our son, brother, grandson and friend for the amazing, caring boy that he was. We miss him every day. We love this fun afternoon where the town comes together to remember our son, bring awareness of what a punch to the head can cause, and raise money for three wonderful charities in his memory.”

Gates open at 12pm and kick-off is at 2pm.