Charity football match will celebrate the life of Kimberworth’s Ben Heap

Money raised at the events to celebrate the life of Ben Heap will be split between an epilepsy charity and the The Robert Ogden School.

Mum Mel said: “Unbelievably, it’s a year since Ben passed away and we are once again holding a fundraiser and football match in his memory.

“This time, we are also raising awareness of the cause of Ben’s death, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP, as well as the school for autistic children, which Ben attended.”

Ben (27) was diagnosed with severe autism aged three and learned to talk from watching Disney cartoons and films. He died in his sleep at home in Kimberworth in February 2017.

Mel said: “We had to wait almost three months to get the results from the coroner and we had never heard of SUDEP.

“We have been supported so much by SUDEP Action. They have a bereavement service specifically for people who have lost someone young to SUDEP.

“With help from SUDEP Action, we have gained information which we want every parent to know about, to save them the heartbreak we are going through every day.”

The football match will take place at Millmoor Juniors in Kimberworth at 11am on Sunday, April 29.

And the following Friday, May 4, will be the celebration party, with a raffle, auction and live music at the Manor Barn in Kimberworth from 7.30pm.

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06/03/2018