https://readingrugby.club/ollystephens?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR07TPQaWpNBlW_dJ0MEWiyGnTq9KohEjiUvHSn-YfMfCaEqxIpHkdJM2Iw_aem_Affsl_iFSHsPI-5ODimEQXiMkmVir7B09AqoG2xTzCwtlG05eOfvoAadhsb9kWq4pYYJvSidyixenMRVq3DlORcr

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On Sunday 14th April, Reading RFC hosted the third annual Olly Stephens Memorial Cup, remembering our brother-in-rugby and continuing his parents' incredible work raising money to ensure his legacy is to give something positive to the community. The total raised of £6,000 will be split between three charities in Olly's memory.

In 2021, aged just 13, Olly wandered over to a field, Bugs Bottom, opposite their house - sliders on his feet, his phone in hand. 15 minutes later, he was stabbed to death by two teenage boys in a field behind his house, after they recruited a girl online to lure him there. The entire attack had been planned on social media and triggered by a dispute in a social media chat group.

For those who would like to learn more about Olly’s story, the Digital Detectives series on Channel 4 will feature it at 9pm on the 29th of April. The programme makers have worked closely with Thames Valley Police and his family. Note that it’s hard watching and support is advised if showing it to younger children.

Keen to ensure Olly's tragic passing counts for something, Amanda and Stuart Stephens have been working tirelessly ever since to raise money for a variety of charities. One of the ways this is done is the Memorial Cup, held annually for the under 14 boys teams of Reading and Reading Abbey, who also host the event in rotation.

On this occasion, a raffle was held with a wealth of generous prizes donated, and there were speeches from Yasmin Miller (Reading RFC President), Karen Rowland (Reading Lead Councillor for Community Safety), Ruth Pearse (Parenting Special Children) and Ian Jenner and Ken Davies (team coaches). Ben Gander, Olly's best friend and a player himself, gave a team talk on the field beforehand, and our own Danny Pratt presented the trophy - won convincingly by Abbey at 53-5.

With advanced raffle sales, £1,000 contribution by the John Sykes Foundation, and a top up from Olly's fund, the total raised is an impressive £3,000. This is doubled by the Big Give, so that three charities (The Ben Kinsella Trust, No. 5 and Parenting Special Children) will receive £2,000. One of the buckets is still in our clubhouse if you want to help this amount go even further.

Huge thanks go to the following for their hard work in making the day successful: Amanda & Stuart Stephens, Shelley Gander & John Kelly (committee); James Waite, Matt Turrell & Chris Mills (match officials); Ian Jenner, Ken Davies & Lisa Crew (coaches/managers); Colin Stonehouse & Conor Ramage (car parking); Josey and the clubhouse team; and anyone else who made a contribution big or small, the value of which isn't made any smaller by my failure to include them.

Massive thanks also go to everyone who came to support the teams on the day and put their hands in their pockets, producing such a fantastic monetary result.

Next year's game is set to be even bigger, so watch this space for the date and be sure to be there!

Taken on: April 14, 2024

Tags:

Olly

Stephens

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Reading

Abbey

Berkshire

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Sets appears in: • Olly Stephens Memorial 2014 • RRFC

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