Charity set up in memory of journalist and campaigner

A charity has been launched in memory of a Liverpool journalist and Hillsborough campaigner Dan Kay.

He died aged 45 in May last year.

The Dan Kay Foundation has been set up by Mr Kay's family, friends and newspaper colleagues and aims to tackle stigma around mental health while spreading kindness and creating opportunities for those less fortunate.

Mr Kay's cousin Amos Waldman, who is one of the co-founders, said it was both "emotional and exciting".

Mr Kay worked for the Liverpool Echo, most recently as a sports writer and was a well-known campaigner on behalf of the families of the Hillsborough disaster victims.

He worked closely with the family of Anne Williams, whose 15-year-old son Kevin died in the disaster, co-writing her daughter Sara Williams's book With Hope in her Heart.

Former Liverpool Echo colleague and co-founder of the foundation, Sam Carroll, said helping others was central to Mr Kay's life.

"He wasn't someone who shouted about all the work he did; feeding the homeless on Christmas Day, delivering food hampers for those less fortunate across the city," Mr Carroll said.

"This was all stuff that came to light after Dan had died which I find quite remarkable."

Mr Waldman said the trustees and volunteers were looking forward "to continuing Dan's great work" adding the foundation had some fantastic events and initiatives to announce in the near future "which will make a real change to the communities and organisations Dan cared so deeply about".

Earlier this year, an inquest into Mr Kay's death was adjourned pending a review into treatment Mr Kay received from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Kay passed away after being struck by a train on 7 May 2023.

Assistant coroner Joseph Hart said Mr Kay's contact with the trust's Liaison Psychiatry Team and Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team will be explored at the full inquest, expected to be held later this year.

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