A BEAUTY QUEEN who was honoured for supporting troops in Afghanistan is helping those closer to home by raising funds for the family of a man who died from head injuries, who are struggling to afford his funeral.

Popular Middlesbrough man and dad of two David Clark was found with severe head injuries at a house on Cornforth Avenue in the Park End area of the town in the early hours of Saturday, February 9.

The 33-year-old was taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he died from his injuries later that day. His brother-in-law, Mark Hall, has since been charged with murder.

Friend of the family Jessica Marshall, who was awarded a medal for spending nine months supporting troops in Afghanistan while battling an eating disorder, is now organising a charity event to help towards the cost of Mr Clark’s funeral.

She said: “His family are very close to mine. They have to pay for his funeral and they cannot afford it as they are also having to pay for the funeral of another family member.

“This is about the community coming together. People from all over the area are trying to help and are organising all sorts of things. My night is just one of the things happening to try and help the family.

“It shows how the estate and the town come together when we have lost someone. This town is not what people think it is, we all come together when it is needed. As soon as you lose a member of the community, you realise how much of a town Middlesbrough is.”

Ms Marshall is organising a series of charity events as part of her bid to promote the local community, and win the forthcoming Miss Cleveland pageant.

The charity night in aid of the David Clark Fund will take place at The Dickens Inn in Middlesbrough on Thursday, February 28 from 7.15pm.

The event will see local girls looking for Mr Right take part in a Take Me Out competition and will also feature karaoke, charity leg waxing and an auction. Tickets are £5 on the door and refreshments are available.