Second football match to be held in teen's memory

Kean was "passionate about football" and went to all Shrewsbury Town’s matches, his aunt said

A second charity football match is set to be held to raise funds in memory of a 16-year-old boy who died from cancer.

Kean Hall, from Church Stretton, Shropshire, died in 2022 after he was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer rhabdomyosarcoma for a second time.

He was treated 60 miles away from home at Birmingham Children's Hospital, with his family staying near him at Ronald McDonald House throughout his care.

A football match will be held on 5 May to raise money for the house - an independent charity offering its provision free to families of critically ill patients treated by the hospital.

Kean's aunt, Emma Rogers, said the family would "never forget" the love and support the charity had offered the family "at the worst time of their lives".

She said travelling back and forth would have "added to the nightmare" for the family, and that Ronald McDonald House became like a "second home".

"We knew Kean was in the best place, but he needed lengthy treatment, and it was so far away from home," she explained.

"Staying at the Ronald McDonald House meant that they could be close to Kean and didn’t have to worry about paying for expensive hotels and travel costs."

'Passionate about football'

The 16-year-old Shrewsbury Town FC fan was first diagnosed with the cancer at the age of four in 2009, but it returned and he died in September 2022.

His family held the first football match in his memory at Russells Meadow, Church Stretton, on 30 April last year and raised £8,000 for the charity.

This year's match, held at the same location, will once again see two teams made up of family and friends compete for a trophy, alongside a bouncy castle and raffle.

"Kean was passionate about football and went to all Shrewsbury Town’s matches, home and away," Ms Rogers said.

"This is a fitting tribute to Kean, who we miss so much.”