Football-mad officers and staff help raise funds to support heart patients

Football-mad officers and staff from Durham Constabulary have helped raise funds to support people in the North-East suffering from heart problems.

The force's five-a-side football tournament returned this spring with a total of 8 mixed teams taking part from a range of departments including response, safeguarding, neighbourhoods and many more.

The groups gathered at Goals in Sunderland on Friday morning (April 12) and battled it out in the hope of being crowned force champions.

The overall winners were ‘Largentina’, captained by Sergeant Simon Peele, who have won the competition four years in a row.

The tournament raised money for local charity the Red Sky Foundation, which provides vital support for babies, children and adults with cardiac problems throughout the region.

Detective Inspector John Bates, who took on the role of organising the day said: “It was great to see the tournament return once again this year and I’d like to thank everyone who came down and took time off to support this very worthy cause – a huge shout out to our match day officials who also stepped in to support the day.

“Red Sky Foundation has supported and continues to support some of our own officers and staff and their families, so it is great to be able to do something in return.”

To find out more about the charity, visit: Red Sky Foundation – HELPING LITTLE HEARTS AND THEIR FAMILIES