A CHARITABLE fund set up in memory of a student who died after being hit by a taxi in York has raised more than £70,000.

Robert Stephenson of Pickering was just 21 when he was knocked down and killed whilst on a night out in York in March last year.

The Newcastle University student was a keen sportsman and played rugby for the Malton and Norton Rugby Club and cricket with Thornton-le-Dale.

Following his death Mr Stephenson’s family set up the Rob Stephenson Trust to raise funds to help young people participate in sport.

Now the Trust has raised more than £70,000 and Mr Stephenson’s parents Patrick and Nicki, and elder brother Sam wanted to thank everyone for their overwhelming support.

Mrs Stephenson said enough money had been raised for a variety of sports events such as cycle challenges and cricket matches.

She added: “In addition we have been donated huge amounts of money from a wide range of organisations from agricultural companies to many local sports clubs.

“We would like to thank everyone for the wholehearted support of the trust, from close family and friends to people we have never even meet.

“When Sam had this brainwave we had absolutely no idea that it would end up like this.”

Donations have been made to a number of projects, both in this country and abroad, including Sierra Leone, Mongolia, South Africa, India and Brazil.

Mrs Stephenson said: “One of Rob’s friends Haydon Jackson personally delivered cricket shirts, donated by Yorkshire Cricket, to a primary school in Rajasthan, India, while support is to be provided to girls in orphanages in China through the provision of sports equipment.”

Closer to home, the trust has supported Thornton Dale Cricket Club, the Mia’s Wheels appeal and community rugby for Malton RUFC.

Mrs Stephenson said: “It has been an overwhelming year, which we will never forgot. We will like to thank everyone who has supported us.”

Mr Stephenson was a former student of Lady Lumley School in Pickering before going on to study at Newcastle University.

At the time of his death he was in his third year of an agriculture, with honours in agronomy.