Surrey Cricket Clubs to help the family of Mark Collin who died during the match

The cricket clubs of Surrey have come together to help the family of Mark Collin, who died while playing the game for Effingham Cricket Club on August 19. The friends, family and the teammates of the cricketer have set up a fundraising page in his memory after being overwhelmed with the requests from people to donate.

Mark Collin was airlifted to the hospital after he collapsed during his team’s away game against Newdigate Cricket Club on 19th August. After the discussion between the family of 41-year-old and his teammates, it was decided yesterday that setting up a fundraising page was the best way to collect funds to pay tribute to the popular player.

Family overwhelmed with the love

The captain of the Effingham Cricket Club Adam Burlison is a close friend of Collin’s family and Mark himself and became emotional following the death of his team mate. He also mentioned that the tributes and the requests to donate have been so moving.

“We spoke to the family and feel this is the right thing to do because there are such an amazing amount of tributes that we have seen. I know that while the family are grieving they have been completely overwhelmed by the love everyone has shown and to see that has made their grieving a little bit easier to bear,” Burlison said.

He also said that the response to the page has been highly positive and praised his late friend for being a father to so many while he was playing the game. “Everyone’s reaction has been hugely positive. For the club and the players, we are a very young and tight group, so there is a feeling of disbelief and it’s hard to accept. It has been very difficult as he was a father figure to so many and helped them, especially the colts,” the 41-year-old added.

Unique tributes to the cricketer

Surrey Cricket Club paid a special tribute to Mr Collin during their match at Oval on Friday. Also on Wednesday, friends and team-mates at Effingham cricket club formed a guard of honour in his name at the Surrey v Birmingham T20 league quarter final, also at The Oval. An online condolence book was also set-up in memory of Mr Collin earlier this week while all cricket clubs in Surrey will hold a minute’s silence this weekend.

The tributes have made the cricketing world take notice of the incident and also has shown the support for the cricketer which has been immense. The family has been overwhelmed with the support and have thanked everyone for their support in their tough time.