Game on for Shelley tribute
AFUNDRAISING sports game will be held in memory of a former national league basketball player.
Shelley Anne Bevan, who played in the national league for Stockport and had trials for the north of England team, was honoured with a charity basketball game five days after what would’ve been her 38th birthday.
More than 50 people in the crowd cheered as Shelley’s 11-year-old daughter Katie and 15-year-old son Kyle played her number, along with her former teammates from ‘the jazz’ group and players from the league with Shelley’s former coach Glen Lewis leading them.
Her sister Kerry said: “So many happy memories came flooding back when I walked in the basketball centre.
“It reminded me of just how good mine and Shelley’s childhood was having all these people who are supportive around us.
“It was amazing to see Shelley’s team mates come together and they haven’t seen me and my family for 20 odd years and for them to do this for us was out of this world. I will be forever grateful for what they have done. I never expected to raise as much as we did and I am absolutely blown away by people’s generosity.
“That night you could tell Shelley was missed and very much loved and it was a very emotional day.”
Attendees did a minute clap for Shelley from Macclesfield before the match and league sportspersons from two other courts stopped their game to join in the clapping.
Shelley’s sister and mum threw the ball up in the air to start the first half and second half of the game at Reddish Vale Basketball Centre which ended in a score of 43-46.
The family are arranging to set up an annual basketball match a week after Shelley’s birthday as well as a mixed team in honour of her memory to play every Saturday at Reddish Vale Basketball Centre where Shelley and Kerry played the sport together in their teenage years.
Laura Whitaker, Glen’s daughter and Shelley’s childhood best friend and team mate from the jazz, said: “The atmosphere was amazing and all about Shelley.
“We haven’t stepped foot in the basketball centre for 20 years but while friends from the team reminisced about Shelley and our memories of basketball it felt as though we never left.
“We lived at the basketball court in our teenage years and we were there most nights and go back to each others houses.
“They are all happy memories, there was never a sad moment in basketball.
“Shelley’s smile lit up the room and she was a wonderful person who was always there for everyone.
“If she was here today she would love the idea of a basketball game and would be there without a doubt.
“Shelley has brought us all back together and I hope she’s up there happy.”
Laura, who is partially sighted and deaf, joined competitors on the court for the last two minutes of the game and with some help scored a goal in the hoop. Players formed a group hug and Laura did a speech at the end to say thank you and a raffle took place.
In total the family have raised more than £3,000.