A baby girl who lost her life to meningitis will soon have a fitting headstone thanks to a young boxer’s efforts in the ring.
Liam Lillystone raised £1,423 in sponsorship when he took on a rival for the junior title at the ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) championships at the weekend.
Although the 15-year-old was beaten to the title, Liam is already a winner in everyone’s eyes.
That's because he raised more than enough for a headstone for 15-month-old Teagan Jones, who died in November.
His story prompted a huge amount of interest when it was reported in the Gazette last week.
Liam, of Thorntree, is the boyfriend of Teagan’s big sister Chloe Jones.
The 16-year-old and her family were left heartbroken following the baby girl's death - and it inspired the Ormesby School teenager to fight in the tot’s name.
Liam’s dad Anthony, who is also a coach where Liam trains at East Middlesbrough Boxing Gym, said: “It was a good hard fight.
"I couldn’t have wished for him to work harder than he did. We are all very proud of him.
“He’s had a lot of support from local people.”
Little Teagan fell ill in November and died just a few days later, on November 24, at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital as a result of a combination of meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia.
Teagan’s parents, John Jones and Tracy Beedle, of Brambles Farm in Middlesbrough, and her brothers and sisters, were all devastated by her death.
Among those who travelled to Birtley in Tyne and Wear to watch Liam fight were Chloe and her dad John, who is also dad to Stacey, 14, Leon, eight, Paige, six and three-year-old Mason.
Liam, who also lives with step-mum Lisa Gill and siblings Tia, five, and three-year-old twins Harvey and Harrison, will be taking on the same competitor again in two weeks’ time, said his dad.
“Liam’s beat the lad twice before," Anthony said.
"They’re quite evenly matched so they come up against each other quite often.
"The fight at the weekend could’ve gone either way. It was a good fight on both parts.
“The headstone’s been ordered and the little bit of money left over will go to the family.”
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