Fundraiser for Chester accident victim Danny Evans at Deeside College raises more than £1,000

Jun 10 2010 by Dave Goodban, Chester Chronicle

AN ATHLETICS event raised more than £1,000 in memory of a talented teenager.

More than 200 youngsters turned out on Sunday for the Danny Evans Memorial Games, organised by the Deeside College student’s family.

Danny, a champion high jumper from Connah’s Quay, was just 18 when he died in a road crash on the A548 Sealand Road in Chester in February.

He and three friends were on their way to a night out in Chester when the black Renault Clio he was a passenger in overturned.

Danny’s parents Debbie and Mark, of Normanby Drive, decided to raise £4,000 to buy a new high jump landing mat for Deeside Athletics Club, where their son was a member.

More than £2,000 was raised at Danny’s funeral at St Mark’s Church. About £7,000 has now been collected in just four months since Danny died.

“We’ve smashed our target already – we’ve nearly doubled it,” said Debbie. “And Deeside Athletics Club has ordered an Olympic-standard high jump mat. Any money left over will go to club funds for whatever the kids need.”

Danny’s dad Mark, sister Sophie and brother Lee all spent the day at Deeside College on Sunday, when junior athletes from as far afield as Blackpool, Carmarthen, Menai, Liverpool and Warrington took part.

Debbie said: “It was a really good day, the best turn-out ever at a Deeside open day. A lot of Danny’s friends turned up and took part as well.”

Danny’s family are now organising another fundraising night for his friends in August at the Connah’s Quay Navy Club.