Friends and family see Craig’s legacy growing

The family of young cricketer Craig Botting has been told that a seriously ill patient who received his pancreas and a kidney has died.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jun 2013, 06:03 BST

Craig’s mum Christine said: “We were all very upset and sad but although he didn’t have children he had a few more weeks with his wife thanks to the generosity of our beautiful son.”

However, the man who received Craig’s heart has made a “miraculous” recovery as has the man who had his other kidney. After Craig’s death his family appealed to everyone to discuss organ transplant in the event of their death.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Christine, 24-year-old Craig’s dad Richard, sister Charlotte, and partner Aimee Wardley, have now handed over more than £5,500 to the air ambulance crews who landed at Balcombe Cricket Club near the home where he collapsed with a brain haemorrhage.

More than £1,500 was raised for Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance at Craig’s funeral and afterwards at Balcombe cricket ground where he played.

A further fund-raiser weekend began with Craig’s friends marking what would have been his 25th birthday with a golf day at his favourite Manning Heath Golf Course. The day will be held annually with a silver salver to be given in his name. And at Balcombe CC, a memorial match was held for Craig and his grandfather, Trevor, who also died suddenly 10 years ago. He, like Craig, was a talented cricketer and Bottings have played at Balcombe for more than 80 years. Now, a fund-raiser in their names will also be held annually.

Christine, said: “It is yet to be verified by the KSS but we are sure we raised more than £4,000 over that weekend which is amazingly generous.”