A much-loved dad and son have been remembered at a charity football match in their honour.
AFC Houghton and East Rainton FC braved the rain on Sunday morning to play the match at Houghton Kepier School in memory of dad Dave Snaith and his son Chris Snaith.
Devoted father, Dave, spent years fundraising for brain tumour research and care following the tragic death of his son, Chris, in 2007.
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Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001 and underwent three operations, along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy before being told by doctors there was nothing more they could do.
Despite this, the courageous young man was determined to fight his illness and flew to Los Angeles to try pioneering treatments at the UCLA Medical Centre. During his brave battle, Chris also researched the latest developments in treatment and shared these with others in a bid to help.
Chris tragically died aged 26 in April 2007, just three months before his wife Nikki gave birth to their twins, Liam and Lucy.
His dad Dave was determined to continue his son's legacy and set up the Chris Snaith Fund, organising 14 charity football matches and six charity social evenings that raised more than £60,000 for brain tumour charities. Tragically, Dave died aged 69 in September last year after suffering from a stroke.
The fit and active former headteacher and worked as an educational advisor with schools and academies across the region.
Now, the memory of the two inspiring men lives on, along with Dave's incredible fundraising efforts, after the family and football teams rallied around to hold the match in their honour. The funds raised will be split between UCLA Neuro-Oncology research, where Chris was treated for nearly a year, and the Northern Brainwave Appeal, based at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Dave's daughter, Stephanie Jach, said: "After losing Chris, dad put his heart and soul into fundraising for brain tumour care and research. We are so grateful to Tommy, Liam and the teams for everything they have done to continue dad’s legacy."
Tommy Hotchkiss, 40, who manages East Rainton FC, was Chris' best friend. He said the match was always an emotional day but made even more poignant by the devastating loss of his dad Dave.
"Chris was such a genuine and nice lad. His whole family is the salt of the earth," Tommy said.
"Today is very emotional. It is a sad state of affairs that Dave is not here to share the moment, but then I wish that there was no charity because it would mean that Chris and Dave would be here.
"[But] We have got to continue Chris and Dave's legacy now because we can't let the hard work that Dave has done go to waste.
"We have got to try and raise money to try and find a cure for this horrible illness. Once we have that then, hopefully, people won't suffer the way Chris did."
East Rainton FC won 7-4. To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stephanie-jach-2
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