Nearly 30 teams will line up to observe a minute's silence at the start of Saturday's Mandip Mudhar Memorial Tournament, in memory of the football-mad young student from Luton who died after a road traffic accident.

Six-a-side teams from Birmingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes will join others from Luton in a charity fundraising event that has grown each year since the first three years ago.

A lively day is planned for spectators as well as competitors, with plenty of action, music and stalls, and will be followed by a party at the recreation centre in the evening.

Previous tournaments have raised over £2,000 for the intensive therapy unit at London's Royal Free Hospital – where Mandip lost his brave fight for life back in January 2001.

Backed by CALM, a charity organisation offering advice and support to young people, the tournament has also received generous support from a number of local companies.

The top raffle prize – donated by Co-operative Funeral Care, who also provided financial support – will be the use of a chauffeur-driven limousine to take the winner and guests on a night out anywhere in a 50-mile radius on a date to be agreed during the next 12 months.

"We are very grateful to all our supporters," said organiser Bobby Mudhar, Mandip's brother.

Proceeds from this year's event, which will be held at Vauxhall recreation ground at The Brache, will go to the Royal Free, Keech Cottage children's hospice and other local charities.

The tournament also promotes the importance of organ donation, particularly within minority communities, and aims to bring together young people from all racial and religious backgrounds.

Bobby, 32, believes it is a fitting and positive way to remember his brother and keep his memory alive.

A first-year student at Kingston University, Mandip was a former pupil of Challney High School for Boys and Luton Sixth Form College.
A keen footballer, he played for Farley Eagles and was a dedicated West Ham supporter.

Bobby said: "He was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. As it says on the trophy, 'The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering'."