£10k raised in memory of 11-year-old footballer

A HOST of footballing stars have joined together to raise more than £10,000 in memory of a young footballer who tragically died aged just 11.

In October last year, Kennoway Soccer Sevens and the local Fife community were left stunned when 11-year-old Owen Nisbet was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. This rare form of cancer usually has high survival rates but Owen passed away just five weeks after his diagnosis.

Thanks to support from Liverpool FC’s James Milner and clubs such as Hibs, Raith Rovers and East Fife, the community was able to raise £10,200 which will go to the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

The charity supported Owen and his family throughout his illness.

Kennoway Soccer Sevens coach Rab Lindsay said: “When we first found out Owen was ill, we started fundraising to give the family a holiday. We got in touch with the Hibs team, who have always been a great support to us, through their Fife scout.

“They got to work straight away, organising a trip for the family. So we turned our fundraising efforts towards arranging the end-of-season dance to double-up as a fundraising event for Owen.”

Owen died unexpectedly just weeks before the event took place.

Rab added: “We had no intention of stopping our fundraising efforts there. After hearing how ECHC had cared for Owen and his family, we turned our attention to raising money for them. We wanted to give back to the charity that had looked after our wee Owen, and made him feel comfortable.”