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A charity football match has raised thousands of pounds in memory of a young man who took his own life.
Former Ashford schoolboy Aaron Jermy tragically died in Canterbury in December after experiencing struggles with mental illness.
On Saturday, July 24, the 22-year-old's aunt Sarah Morris and uncle Adam Potts staged a football match and barbecue in Sellindge to raise funds for mental health charity Mind.
So far £6,400 has been donated, including a significant sum of £5,000 from the Westerleigh Group, operators of Barham crematorium.
Mr Potts, who works as an undertaker for funeral directors W J Farrier & Son, now hopes the game between former members of local youth football clubs Bay United and Capel Court will become an annual event.
"It went really well," the 41-year-old said. "More than £6,000 raised and still counting.
"We staged the match in memory of Aaron and for Mind, because mental health is quite a big issue at the moment, and men don't tend to talk about it."
The match, which was played at Sellindge Sports and Social Club, was won by Capel Court, whose 6-3 victory saw them take home the Aaron Jermy 'Mind' Memorial Cup.
Reflecting on Aaron's struggles with mental ill-health and the impact of his death, Mr Potts said: "It's something very close to our hearts.
"By raising this money, if we can help a few people out then we will have done a good job. Because it went so well we are going to do it every year."
Following Aaron's death, his mother, Marie O’Leary, called for "more to be done" for people facing the challenges of mental illness.
"I don't think mental health is being taken seriously," she said following his inquest. "I think we need a real focus on mental health and drugs.
"I think to help families and people with mental health issues, so much more can be done."
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