NEARLY a year after the death of Paralympian hopeful Shane Hartop, family and friends are throwing a day of celebrations of his life.

Despite living with a muscle wasting condition that left him in a wheel chair, the young man from Marlborough had set his sights on taking part in the Paralympics playing Boccia and was determined to win a medal.

However Mr Hartop died aged 25 after being rushed into hospital in May 2017, before his Olympic dream could become a reality.

The keen sportsman had also played in Marlborough football club’s pool team by using a specially adapted cue rest on his wheelchair.

Marlborough Football Club will be playing a range of games and hosting a charity auction in his honour at the grounds on May 12.

A football match will be held between the home team and a team representing Leicester, where his family are originally from.

Money raised from the event will be given to Dream Flight, a charity which transforms the lives of seriously ill or disabled children by taking them on an all-expenses paid holiday to Florida.

Mr Hartop experienced the charity’s work as a child and now his mum wants to help other young people have the life experience.

Sharon Hartop, of Five Stiles Road, said: “In 2004 we had a really tough year after some close family members passed away and Shane was in a dark place. Dream Flight came along and took him to Florida for 10 days. He came back a different person, the sparkle had come back in his eyes. I want to do that for another child.

“He was dedicated to sports and said he wasn’t going to die until he had won gold medals in the Paralympics. He was due to go to Rio but then he fell ill and it didn’t happen. It is so unfair that he never got the chance to compete on that stage.

“It was a shock when he passed away, he went into the hospital on the Wednesday because his heart rate was high and when we left him on the Friday he said bye to us as normal. Then we got a call in the evening saying we had to come back in. It was heart breaking saying goodbye. He was such a big character."

To contribute items to the charity auction being held on May 12 at Marlborough football ground contact Mr and Mrs Hartop on: shazndean@hotmail.com