Football match in memory of joiner, 24, nets £15k for charity

A charity football match in memory of a young Nunthorpe joiner has raised more than £15,000 in his name.

Daniel Mallett, a self-employed joiner from Middlesbrough, was rushed into hospital with severe headaches, but tragically passed away three days later.

At the weekend the popular 24-year-old’s friends organised a charity football match and were staggered to raise more than £15,000.

The event took place at Dorman’s Social Club on Saturday. As well as the match, there were also raffles with some great prizes including a signed Boro shirt and football, a Jonathan Woodgate signed England shirt and some boxing gloves signed by Tyson Fury.

Daniel’s mum, Mandy Mallett, said the event went really well and there is still money coming in. All the funds raised will be donated to Encephalitis International, a charity which supports research into the condition encephalitis, swelling on the brain, which Daniel was being treated for.

Mandy, 59, said the family’s world was shattered with the death of Daniel in October, last year, but she was delighted and comforted that his friends wanted to raise money in his name and hopes the match will be a yearly event. Daniel, who loved football and played every Monday evening, was fit and well before he started to get headaches.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, in the early hours of October 16. Staff were treating Daniel for encephalitis, but he sadly died on October 19.

The grieving mum said: “We have been shattered by this. There are no words to describe what effect this has had on us and everyone who knew him, it is just awful.” Speaking about the event, Mandy previously said: “His friends are doing this for him because of how much he meant to them. He had a wonderful group of friends, I could not have asked for better ones.”

Matthew Wright, one of the organisers of the event, said: “Those that were lucky enough to have known Danny will remember how kind and generous he was. What happened to Danny was a tragedy, we all miss him so much, but we know that he would want us to raise as much money as possible to help those affected by similar situations.”

Daniel’s loved ones plan to keep on with the fundraising and anyone who would like to donate can visit the page here.