A Marske club regular is ditching the pints to raise money for a cause close to the hearts of those in the village.
Davie Helyer - known as “Townie Davie” to regulars at the Marske Sports and Recreation club - pops in for a pint most days when he finishes work at the Boulby Potash Mine.
But he’s swapped the beer for tomato juice to take part in Dry January and raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, in memory of Georgina Anderson, the Marske teenager who touched the hearts of thousands through her music before losing her battle with cancer in November 2013.
Davie, 60, said his step-son Jay, 15, was a good friend of Georgina’s and used to walk to Bydales School with her.
He said: “I enjoy a drink or two, but when someone came up with the idea I thought I would give it a go.
“I stopped on New Year’s Eve, which was terrible without a drink, and I’ve been on the tomato juice ever since. I’m eating quite a bit more since, I can’t stop.
“I’ve tried soft drinks and lime and soda, but tomato juice is the only thing I can have - everyone reckons it’s turning my face red though!”
Davie moved to Marske from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough around 20 years ago, and lives on Meadow Road with Jay and partner Angela.
He continued: “Jay was obviously a bit upset recently at the anniversary of Georgina’s death.
“It was a story that touched everyone in Marske. Cancer can be seen as something that affects older people, but I wanted to do it for the Teenage Cancer Trust.”
Davie said that he hopes to raise up to £800 with more donations from colleagues at Boulby, and other members of the Unite union.
So far, around £70,000 has been raised for various charities in Georgina’s name.
She passed away aged 15 in November 2013 - but not before sharing her music with the world.
While the brave Marske youngster fought a serious cancer, her dream of having a Youtube hit came true when her version of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me went viral online.
Then her song ‘Two Thirds of a Piece’ achieved huge chart success, peaking at number 23 in the official charts and at one point reaching number 12 on the itunes chart.
It is still played in Middlesbrough’s Cleveland Centre.
On the first anniversary of Georgina’s death, friends and family gathered at Marske Cricket Club released balloons in her memory.
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