The people of Antrim town have thrown their weight behind a fundraising campaign to support the family of a promising young footballer who tragically passed away last month.
‘Kick 4 Jack’ is a memorial football match taking place in the coming weeks to remember Jack McKitterick.
Jack from Parklands in the town died in hospital on March 16 after suffering a brain aneurysm and just three days before his 26th birthday.
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He is survived by parents Simon and Bronagh, brother Thomas, and grandparents John, Bill and Dee.
A past pupil of Antrim PS and Parkhall Integrated College, where he showed an early interest in football, Jack went on to play for Antrim Rovers, Antrim Eagles and Moylena FC, where he and his younger brother Thomas, 21, proudly lined out side-by-side in midfield.
Just weeks after his brother's death, Thomas suffered a horrific knee injury and family and friends are now rallying to support him on his road to recovery.
The ‘Kick 4 Jack’ event will support Thomas' return to playing sport after his injury while also raising money for Headway: The Brain Injury Association, in memory of Jack.
Family friend, Louis Higgins, is one of those behind the event on Saturday, June 24 at Chimney Corner FC in Antrim.
He told Belfast Live: "The aim of this fundraiser is to primarily raise an initial goal of £8000 which will be used to support Thomas on his journey to return to playing sport from a serious knee injury.
"This will require a full ACL reconstruction surgery and months of physio rehabilitation post surgery in order to get him playing again.
"The fundraiser will not stop at £8,000 however, as we want to give all remaining funds raised to Headway: The Brain Injury Association.
"The reason for this is much more tragic, as Thomas also had to say an early farewell to his loving brother Jack, who recently passed away at the age of 25 from a sudden brain aneurysm.
"Those of us who were close to Jack know first hand how much he enjoyed and cherished playing with and watching Thomas through football.
"If Jack could tell us today what he would want most, it would be to give Thomas the opportunity to get back onto the football pitch again."
You can keep up to date on the event on the Facebook page and support the fundraiser here.
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