A CHARITY football tournament is taking place in memory of a much-loved teaching assistant who died earlier this year.

Seonaid Hill died suddenly on January 5 aged 39. The mother of two worked in the reception class at Skerne Park Academy in Darlington and was loved for her sense of humour and caring nature.

Mrs Hill’s brother Calum Taylor from Newton Aycliffe, is hoping to prevent similar deaths happening in the future by raising money which will go towards funding public defibrillators.

Mr Taylor is organising the "Kick it" event for Seonaid due to her love of sport. The tournament will take place on August 26 with the pitch yet to be confirmed. Mr Taylor is hoping to secure Newton Aycliffe Football Club’s ground after putting in a bid.

Four junior teams will go head to head in the lead up to a match between a senior team from Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland. Most of the squad will be made up of Seonaid’s friends and pub locals.

A fundraising evening will also be held on August 26 at The Big Club in Newton Aycliffe. Live bands will perform from 7.30pm and a raffle will be held in the hopes of raising money to prevent deaths from cardiac arrest.

Mr Taylor would like the event to run annually if it is a success and wants to ensure that his sister’s memory lives on through the tournament,

He said: “I hope this event will raise awareness of unexpected deaths because sudden deaths happen.

"It was a shock because Seonaid was young, fit and healthy. There’s young boys and athletes dying on football pitches everyday, we need to make people aware.

“I’d like to see first aid being taught in schools because they have other subjects and this is so important, it’s my dream for the future.

"My dad always said how important first aid was because if any of the family were in a position where they could have helped Seonaid, they wouldn’t have known how.

"There simply isn’t the training available.”

Mr Taylor will announce ticket sales shortly on a Facebook page he is creating for the event. Everyone is welcome but tickets are limited.