A GROUP of Northsiders have raised funds to buy five defibrillators for local football clubs by taking part in a charity skydive and football tournament.
The events were held in memory of Thomas Clarke, from Darndale, who passed away last year after suffering a heart attack, aged just 34. His friends and family set up the Thomas Clarke Memorial Tournament to honour his memory.
Thomas’ former clubs Carndonagh FC, Pioneers FC, Darndale FC and a team of friends and family battled it out for the second annual trophy at ALSAA Sports Club. Darndale FC won the tournament after defeating the family and friends’ team 4-0 in the final.
Thomas’ father David told Northside People how much the tournament would have meant to his son, and to his family and friends.
“Thomas absolutely loved football and would play for anyone. Give him a game of football, he’d be out there,” David said.
“It’d be something that he’d be so proud of. It’s the one day where all of his friends from any club he played for come together and have a great day and night.”
On the night of the tournament four defibrillators were presented to Pioneers FC, Darndale FC, Carndonagh FC and Ayrfield FC and the trophy to the winners.
Valued at over €1,000 each, the defibrillators were bought with funds raised by 11 of Thomas’ friends and family who also took part in a sponsored skydive earlier this year.
“We wanted to set out a challenge to ourselves, so we decided on a skydive and received a huge amount of support from work colleagues and friends,” David said.
As a result of a generous cash donation from a local couple at the presentation night, the group now have enough money to buy a fifth defibrillator which will soon be purchased for a local football club that is yet to be decided.
“If one of these defibrillators can save a life some day, that’s a job well done. Hopefully they’ll never be needed but they’re in place now,” David said.
“We had a little idea going where we would screen everyone before they play, but that’s huge money and we just don’t have the contacts, so instead of the prevention we’ve focused on the cure.”
Pioneers FC reformed weeks after Thomas’ funeral and went on to win the league and cup this season. “After the funeral, his old mates said they should do this. It all came from Thomas’ passing, otherwise those mates would have never linked up again,” said David.
“All his friends and family are doing something positive so that hopefully no one else like him will be in the same position. It’ll never replace him but if his name can be attributed to something positive like this and someone benefits, it’ll be worthwhile.”
REPORT: Daniel O’Connor
