Raising cash for birthday boy Liam

Corporal Liam Riley was killed by a roadside bomb in February 2010 in Helmand Province while trying to save a colleague when he was aged just 21.

Family and friends of the heroic soldier will celebrate Liam’s 28th birthday with a seventh annual charity event today, held in his honour, with all funds being donated to for the Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen’s Family Association.

Liam’s mum Cheryl Routledge said: “In the seven years we’ve been running this charity event, it’s become well-loved by the people of Beighton and surrounding areas.

“People may wonder why we have switched charities, when we have previously worked to support Help4Heroes. The reason is that the conflict in Afghanistan has now come to an end. Our aim previously was to support our injured and maimed troops and sadly the help for our troop’s recovery needs to carry on. Soldiers returned to our country still need specialist treatments for rehabilitation and stress disorders and we feel that we now need to support the troops that have returned home to move forward. SSAFA is the country’s oldest military charity and extremely respected by both serving and ex-military personnel in this respect. They also were the charity that helped me and my family with bereavement counselling and have been so supportive.”

The fun day kicks off 1t 2.15pm today at Beighton Recreational Grounds with an official opening by former motorcycle racer James Toseland, plus live music and displays.