The Dan Kay Foundation hits fundraising milestone after annual match at Liverpool FC
The Dan Kay Foundation is continuing the legacy of inspirational Liverpool ECHO journalist and Hillsborough campaigner Dan Kay
The second Annual Dan Kay Memorial Match raised £1,500 last Sunday (23rd September) to take the fundraising total over £15,000 since the passing of Dan Kay, the Hillsborough campaigner and Liverpool ECHO journalist who died in May 2023 aged 45.
The match, played out between Dan's close friends and his ECHO colleagues, resulted in a keenly-contested 2-2 draw at Liverpool FC, with the club donating their training facilities for the occasion.
Adam Jones opened the scoring for the ECHO inside the first half-an-hour with a well-taken finish, before an Adam Mitty double either side of half-time put Dan's friends ahead. A late Andy Roach header levelled proceedings, with both teams having chances to win the game late on.
In August 2024, Dan's family, friends and ECHO colleagues launched a registered charity, The Dan Kay Foundation, to continue his inspirational legacy. Their total raised - through football games, marathons and other challenges - stands at over £15,000, with funds aiding Tough To Talk, a suicide and mental health crisis charity, and numerous local community projects and foodbanks.
Read all of Dan Kay's in depth Liverpool articles - from Steven Gerrard to Mario Balotelli - HERE
Dan worked at the Liverpool ECHO between 2003 and 2021 across both news and sport, pioneering digital journalism and leading coverage of Hillsborough legal proceedings. He was later a dedicated member of the ECHO sports team, sharing his deep love of Liverpool FC and its history with readers.
Among Dan's many achievements as a journalist was running live ECHO coverage of the 2014-2016 Hillsborough inquests, which concluded that those who died on April 15, 1989 were unlawfully killed. Dan also worked meticulously to compile individual tributes to those who lost their lives, spending time with many of the families affected over the years and campaigning passionately on their behalf to produce the visual tribute 97 Candles Burn Bright, a lasting memorial to the 97.
Dan partnered with the late Anne Williams' daughter Sara to co-write With Hope In Her Heart, a powerful account of Anne's fight for justice for her son Kevin, 15, and the other Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough.
Dan was also a committed volunteer and fundraiser for community projects in Liverpool, including An Hour for Others and Imagine If Trust. He would, among other selfless acts, deliver food to the vulnerable and homeless on Christmas Day. He was also honorary secretary of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation at Princes Road Synagogue.
After Dan's passing, then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp held a minute's silence at his weekly press conference, while Anfield stood for a rapturous applause to remember Dan at their following home match.
Funds raised from the match will be donated to local community and mental health projects.
For more information or to enquire about funding, contact dankayfoundation@yahoo.com or follow @TheDanKayFou on Twitter or @dankayfoundation on Instagram.
