Gifted teen Andrew, who lost leukaemia battle, remembered in charity football tournament

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A CHARITY football tournament has been organised in memory of a teenager who lost his battle with leukaemia.

Gifted academic and musician Andrew Cook, 19, of Swanland, died at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham in November last year.The teenager had a bone marrow transplant in January last year after a donor – an exact match – was found in Portugal.But then, in July, the teenager relapsed and never recovered.

Now, fundraising group Carry On For Cookie is holding the football competition tomorrow to urge people to join the bone marrow register.

James Wood, a friend of Andrew from the age of four, has helped organise the tournament. He said: "He was a great lad and his death was a huge loss."Myself and all his friends have wanted to do something in his honour for a long time."We decided to hold the football tournament to encourage people to sign up to the bone marrow register."Each person signed up is potentially a life saved."

Despite being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in May 2007, Andrew gained four grade As at AS-level.

Andrew, who attended South Hunsley School in Melton, even sat an exam in his hospital bed at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Before that, he achieved ten GCSEs.

Andrew was told he had leukaemia just two weeks after his mother Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer. She passed away on December 14, 2007.

The football tournament will be held at Blackburn Leisure Centre in Skillings Lane, Brough, from 11am to 3pm.

A total of 84 players have already agreed to take part, each pledging £5 to for charity.

James, 20, of North Ferriby, said: "It is testament to Andrew's character that so many have agreed to play."

Proceeds will be split between the Anthony Nolan Trust and Leukaemia Research.

Andrew's dad Gary, 55, said: "It is great to see so many people getting together to remember Andrew."

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