On Saturday, 20 January, VKL United football team once again took to the turf and played a charity game against Astwood in support of QEHB Charity. The game was given in memory of Vinay Kishor Ladwa, a friend of VKL United, who sadly passed away in 2013.

Vinay was born on January 18, 1989 with a kidney disorder that caused him to spend the majority of his life going to hospitals three times each week for dialysis. Having received treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Vinay was transferred to QEHB aged 18.

Sadly, Vinay’s disorder worsened over time, leading doctors to decide that he required an urgent kidney transplant.  However, Vinay’s condition deteriorated following the transplant due to contracting a chest infection during his recovery. This led to Vinay suffering a fatal stroke, leaving him with an aneurysm on the brain. Whilst efforts were made to remove the aneurysm, it ruptured in 2013, leaving Vinay on a life support system.

Vinay tragically passed away on September 10, surrounded by his family and friends.

Since 2013, VKL United has held an annual football match at Redditch United football stadium, around Vinay’s birthday, in memory of their beloved friend.

Money was raised for QEHB Charity through ticket sales, as well as spectators making donations to the cause throughout the match itself.

As well as the football match, members of VKL United also held a poker night, the money raised from the football match and the poker night combined tip the total to over £1,000!

Vinay’s cousin, Kay said: “Next year would have been Vinay’s 30th birthday, and it also sadly marks five years since my wife passed away and so we are thinking of having a dinner and dance, to commemorate both of them as they were so special to me.”

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