£11k charity boost in memory of tragic Liam

The family and friends of a 13-year-old boy who died of meningitis have raised almost £11,000 for research into the disease.

Liam Keeling, from Great Wyrley, died in October last year after contracting type B bacterial meningitis – a strain for which there is no reliable vaccine. Since then the teenager's grief-stricken parents have been devoted to raising cash for charity Meningitis UK.

Their fundraising efforts began with the setting-up of the Liam Keeling Memorial Fund.

The family and members of the fund's committee held a fundraising night at Walsall FC's Banks's Stad-ium last week, auctioning sporting memorabilia and hosting entertainment from Midlands comedian Ollie Spencer and former Wolves star Steve Kindon.

Liam's 16-year-old sister Hannah also performed with her dance group.

Proceeds for the evening reached £10,985, boosted by a £1,000 donation from Walsall FC where Liam and dad Andy held season tickets together for several years.

The total raised by the family since Liam's death has now hit £21,000, which Andy Keeling believes is a tribute to the support of the community.

"It has been overwhelming. To begin with we thought our fundraising would be on a small scale but we've now managed to reach £21,000 – it's unbelievable," he said.

"We will keep on holding small fundraisers each month and every so often we will do something big like this. As far as we're concerned we will keep going until there is a vaccine for this type of meningitis so other families don't have to go through what we have gone through."

The 50-year-old added: "The support from the whole committee, and Wyrley Juniors FC where he played six years, has been incredible."

Anybody interested in the work of the Liam Keeling Memorial Fund, and anybody wishing to make a donation, is asked to contact Chris Phillips on 07947 878610.