Friends of tragic Staffordshire teenager are aiming to create a new skate park in his memory. Michael Patterson, aged 15, of Park End, Lichfield, died in his sleep in April.

The keen skateboarder, who was also a tae kwon do champion, rugby player, athlete and boxer, had been involved in a previous unsuccessful attempt to establish a skate park in the city’s Beacon Park.

His friends are now hoping that the scheme can be revived as a memorial to Michael who attended John Taylor High School in Barton-under-Needwood.

One of them, Amber Flemming-Smith, has set up the Michael Patterson Skate Park page on social networking site Facebook.

More than 1,200 people have joined up.

Friends from the school and King Edward VI School are to run in the Shenstone Fun Run on June 14 to raise money for the project.

Posters and banners in support of the campaign have also been made and at a recent gathering of about 30 skaters in Lichfield a petition was launched.

The group also spoke about the scheme at the newly-launched Speaker’s Corner in the city.

One of the group Amy Mallaband, who is at John Taylor High, said the nearest skate park for skaters in the city was at Fradley.

She said they aimed to raise all the money needed in memory of Michael.

“We are a group of people that were very good friends with Mike who want to make a name for him,” she added.

The campaign is being supported by Michael’s family.

“We fully support everything they are trying to do,” says his mother Eileen Patterson.

She said they were doing a lot for the image of skateboarders.

“Skateboarders can have a very negative image but everyone who meets Michael’s friends would see that is not a true reflection.”

Runners can register at www.shenstonefunrun.co.uk