THE final Paul Lethbridge Memorial Day helped raise £1,600 for Plymouth’s child bereavement charity Jeremiah’s Journey.

Tamar Saracens and Old Technicians met Jeremiah’s Journey’s John Naismith recently to present him with a cheque from this summer’s event. The funds will help the charity support children, young people and their parents/carers who have or are about to experience the death of someone special.

For nearly 10 years the Memorial Day, in honour of former Tamar Saracens, Old Techs and DHSOB player Paul Lethbridge who sadly died in 2013, has helped raise money for a host of different charities and also for the local rugby scene.

“We have raised a massive amount of money over the years,” said Tamar Saracens chairman Dan Leeson. “I think it is over £20,000 and we have supported a lot of different charities.

“This year there was another really good turnout and it was supported as well as it has always been.”

The organisers of the event had already selected Jeremiah’s Journey as their nominated recipient before the death of former Old Tech player and official Mike Putt, who was a big supporter of the charity, and they admitted that added extra significance to this year day.

Jeremiah’s Journey were certainly grateful to be chosen to be the nominated charity.

“Any support for the charity is amazing,” said fundraising team member John Naismith. “Mike Putt was a big support of ours and we are really grateful and honoured to be the selected for the final memorial game.”

Organisers have decided that this year’s event would be the last.

Tamar Saracens’ director of rugby Pete Lethbridge, Paul’s brother, said: “It has been a good 10 years and we wanted to finish off on a high.

“It is a lot of hard work and all the players that knew Paul are now getting a bit too old to play.”

The organisers were keen to thank all the companies, venues and people who have helped with the event over the years from selling raffle tickets to sponsoring shirts and running the bars.