The father of a two-year-old boy who died from sepsis which started off as a sore throat has thanked people from Hitchin and the wider community for supporting a fundraiser in his son’s name – as well as Liverpool Football Club.

Little Tyler Reader, who regularly took part in Little Kickers football sessions at The Priory School in Bedford Road, first fell ill with a sore throat and temperature.

The young Liverpool fan’s parents Stephen and Lisa Reader were told to give pain and fever relief – but as his condition worsened doctors diagnosed him with group A streptococcus, an infection linked to tonsillitis.

Unfortunately Tyler had a severe strain, and he sadly passed away a short while later on Friday, November 6 last year.

His devastated parents decided to organise the ‘Tyler Reader Brighter Future Fund Fun Day’ on Easter Sunday to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, as a team from the hospital tried to save the football-mad tot.

Despite bad weather more than 200 people turned out at the event in London Colney, and through donations and the sale of raffle tickets it raised £2,010 – making the total figure raised since the fund started to £11,600.

Stephen told the Comet: “I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone from Hitchin who came to support our fun day – as well as the incredible support we’ve had from everywhere else too.

“I can’t thank people enough, including Liverpool FC, who sent a signed match ball immediately after we contacted them as Tyler was a big fan. It was a very kind gesture by them.”

A black tie evening, Tyler’s Playtime Ball will be held at the Conservatory at Luton Hoo’s Walled Garden on Saturday November 12. To sponsor the event contact Stephen at remembertyler@hotmail.com.

You can also donate via justgiving.com/GoldenLionFamilyDay or by texting ‘TRBF82 £5’ to 70070.