‘Grace loved Nottingham, which is why wearing green is special’
Nottingham attack victim, Grace O'Malley-Kumar from Essex, is honoured by England hockey teams.
Nottingham attack victim, Grace O'Malley-Kumar from Essex, is honoured by England hockey teams.
In honour of Grace, the England hockey men’s and women's teams are playing in green today, which is the colour of Nottingham University hockey team.
The women’s team are playing Argentina and the men’s are playing Germany for their pro league matches.
They will also be wearing green ribbons for the event.
Grace was a member of the Old Loughtonians hockey club in Loughton before she went to the University of Nottingham and played for the Ladies Hockey team.
Katie Curtis was a close friend of Grace’s and played with her on the squad.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio she said “spectators are encouraged to come down wearing an element of green. Grace absolutely loved Nottingham which is wearing green is special.”
Katie has organised a hockey tournament called ‘The Grace O'Malley-Kumar Cup’ which will take place on 19th July 2025 at Nottingham Hockey Centre,
The event will raise funds for The Grace O'Malley-Kumar Foundation which was set up by Grace's family to keep her memory alive.
“it’s always been such a heavy grief and pain but this event kind of encapsulates her spirit and is a way to remember her but in a positive way where we’re all smiling and remembering her for who she was” Katie said.
On the 13th June 2023 Grace O'Malley-Kumar from Essex was stabbed to death alongside fellow student Barnaby Webber, when they were walking home from a night out in Nottingham.
Valdo Calocane was sentenced for their murders at Nottingham Crown Court On 25 January 2024 and detained indefinitely at a high-security hospital.
Katie added that the aim of the event is to also raise awareness on how to make the country safer for students walking home.
“Students across the country were impacted, because you can really empathise with what happened, every student goes on a night out, every student walks home, every student should be safe”.
She added ‘we want to make sure something good comes from the event, if that’s raising money for the foundation or raising awareness that in itself is amazing’.