Thousands of pounds have been raised by friends, fellow students, players and supporters to help the family of a sports mad Penrith teenager who suffered serious injuries in a road accident near the town.
Seventeen-year-old Ben Ellis was airlifted to hospital and underwent surgery after being hit by an HGV last Wednesday.
Ben was on foot at the time of the accident, on the A66 eastbound carriageway between M6 Junction 40 and the Kemplay Bank roundabout just after 12-30pm.
Ben, a Penrith Football Club player who also recently returned to action for the town’s cricket club first XI, was placed in an induced coma at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, where his condition on Wednesday afternoon was said by police to be “critical but stable”.
Following the accident, a JustGiving appeal was set up by Penrith Cricket Club first team captain Greg Cameron in a bid to ease the financial burden on Ben’s family — parents Paul and Amanda, and elder brother Jimmy — as they make hospital visits.
“It’s one of the main ways that people can help out,” said Greg. “There’s not much anyone else can do except take that financial strain off them. It’s not fair for them to have to struggle through when people are there wanting to help as much as possible.”
By Friday afternoon the appeal for an initial £1,000 had topped £17,300.
“I can’t speak for Paul, Amanda and Jimmy but I’m pretty sure they’ll be lost for words about how much support there has been, not only from local people and local sports players but across the north of England and the whole country,” said Greg.
“We’ve done what we can. There’s not too much you can do at this stage. I think the only real way people can help out is to ease the financial stress of everything that’s going on, just to give them a safety blanket.
“Paul and Amanda have hardly missed a (first team cricket) game in the last couple of years. They both come and support Jimmy and Ben — both of the lads are sport mad.
“I know it’s a strange time at the moment with everything costing a lot more. But when someone that you care about is in this situation you’ve got to do what you can to help out.”
All junior and senior Penrith Cricket Club matches were postponed last weekend after players, coaches and officials — along with Ben’s friends and fellow Queen Elizabeth Grammar School students — learned of his accident. Cricket is due to resume this weekend after consultation with Ben’s family.
Police have appealed for any witnesses with information about last Wednesday’s collision to call 101. Details can also be reported online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it
The online JustGiving page is https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/greg-cameron-1.
