SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Community spirit shines through in memory of Brad

THE people of Ilminster and surrounding area have been thanked for their huge support of a charity they have been backing following the death of 15-year-old Bradley Cullen two years ago.

Brad, a student at Wadham School in Crewkerne having previously been a pupil at Swanmead School in Ilminster, died in 2013 having lived with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Youth footballers took on a team made up of coaches to battle it out for the Bradley Cullen Memorial Cup in the special event held on Ilminster Recreation Ground in May.

PHOTO - ABOVE AND RIGHT: The balloons are released at Ilminster Recreation Ground in memory of 15-year-old Bradley Cullen.

A number of matches took place throughout the day and finished with the final which saw the youth team win the trophy donated by the then Ilminster Mayor, Emma Jane Taylor.

That event raised £1,200 and further fundraising at Wadham School brought the total up to nearly £2,000 and this was presented to Action Duchenne community fundraising officer Helen Keenan on Saturday (June 20, 2015) at Ilminster Rec in Canal Way.

Helen travelled down from the charity’s London headquarters to personally receive the cheque and to thank people for their support.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” she said. “It just goes to show what a superb community spirit there is here in Ilminster. I have been absolutely blown away by people’s support.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Children go charging off after the balloons with no chance of catching them!

The Bradley Cullen Memorial Cup day is expected to become an annual event as Brad’s friends will want to remember him.

The event was started last year by Ilminster Youth FC’s Under-16s – many of whom had grown up with Brad.

His parents, Mark and Tash, and brother Jake were at the presentation on Saturday along with club members, friends and school representatives.

Balloons were released as part of the event in memory of Brad to mark the second anniversary of his untimely passing.

PHOTOS - ABOVE: Taken during Saturday's cheque presentation and balloon release at Ilminster Recreation Ground in Canal Way.

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