Leeds United Fans to Unite in Memory of Young Supporter
A family is hoping that football fans at Leeds United’s game with Blackburn at Elland Road this week, will unite in memory of a young fan who died suddenly last week.
17 year old Skye Thompson suffered a bleed on her brain. She was a huge supporter of the club often attending matches with her uncle Scott who started a social media campaign following her death.
He’s calling for the crowd at the game to take part in a minute’s applause in her memory, during the 17th minute of the game.
Scott told Radio Aire he’s overwhelmed by the response: “Football sort of unites. I think it’s just been amazing. Fans from every club in the football league. Its just unbelievable that they can take the time to read the post and know that’s Skye and what a wonderful person she was. Her story is just reaching far and wide. Someone from Australia even commented. The strength it gives you to know they’ve pressed the like button and it’s Skye they’ve pressed it for.”
Skye’s mum Helen made the decision to donate her daughter’s organs following her death. They have helped to save the life of four people.
Helen told Radio Aire: “They’re going to get the chance to continue their lives whereas Skye didn’t. I’d like to think that if I’d have been a parent and Skye was waiting for an organ, there would have been someone else out there that would do exactly the same as I’ve done. Everybody deserves the chance to live their life.”
Helen and other members of Skye’s family will be at Thursday night’s game. She says she’s not sure how she’ll feel when she’s hears the applause: “To know that it is for Skye, I’ll try to hold it together and I’ll try to clap. … It’s one of those situations that you hope you’ll never be in but you are in. The feeling will be one that lives with us forever.”
Friends of Skye and her family are now raising money to buy her 'the most beautiful headstone possible'. They've started a Go Fund Me campaign. You can find out more here.