Saints footballer’s charity run for St Ives teenager who died last year

Harry Williams, of Stirling Road, died while travelling home from a football match on December 11 last year. An inquest held earlier this year heard Harry died when the driver of the car Darryl Townsend, 20, lost control in Rogues Lane, Elsworth. Mr Townsend was also killed in the crash.

St Neots under-18 footballer Jack Prime will be running from St Ivo, Harry’s former school, today at midday.

He will travel through the Thicket and the Hemingfords and through St Ives twice before finishing at The Lounge, The Broadway, where friends and family are getting together.

Jack, 17, who is raising money for the Prostate Cancer Charity, praised his best friend of 10 years: “Harry was a huge part of many people’s lives. He was loved by many people and he was a great character.

“When he took part in Movember for prostate cancer, he committed to growing a ridiculous moustache for a month. Everybody started to call him ‘The Slug’ with his attempt: he probably raised the most amount of money for the charity in our school.

“But this was what Harry was all about – commitment. Now it’s my turn to give something back and, because he was my best mate for so long, the run is very close to my heart.

“His parents are really supportive of the run, they just wanted everyone all together on the anniversary.”

Mr Townsend didn’t wear a seatbelt while driving Harry, 17, and two other team-mates home after their last match of the year. His car left the road and spun, hitting a tree, and the 20-year-old was thrown through the rear windscreen.

A memorial football tournament was set up in August between clubs Harry had links with, including two Hemingford senior teams and a Dan Williams XI that featured his brother.

The tournament was organised to raise money to have a bench installed at the pavilion in the Hemingford playing fields.

INFORMATION: To give money towards Jack’s run go to www.justgiving.com/harry-williams1