Weekend in memory of skater Ralph raised £5,000

A skating-themed weekend in memory of a young Lytham man who died suddenly earlier this year raised £5,000 for the charity set up by his parents in his name.
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The Live Like Ralph Weekender at Park View 4U, Lytham and other venues around the area celebrated the life of talented skateboarder and artist Ralph Roberts with skate competitions, art, music and family fun.

Ralph’s dad Neil, who set up the Live Like Ralph charity, to help improve skate parks and support artists. with his wife Fiona, was delighted with the success of the weekend and hopes it will become an annual event.

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“It went wonderfully well and we are delighted with the amount raised,” he said.

A host of skaters gathered at Park View 4U, Lytham and other venues in tribute to Ralph RobertsA host of skaters gathered at Park View 4U, Lytham and other venues in tribute to Ralph Roberts
A host of skaters gathered at Park View 4U, Lytham and other venues in tribute to Ralph Roberts

“We held an auction which especially busy and one piece of art of Ralph by his friend Adam Parry went for £350.

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Along with Park View 4U, close to where Ralph grew up and where he first started skating, events were also held the Plant Skatepark and Dirty Blondes Skate Bar and Nightclub in Blackpool and Moor Park, Preston, where he also enjoyed skating.

Ralph, who worked as a graphic artist, was 26 when he died suddenly at his parents’ home in Lytham in January.

Ralph developed his skating skills at Park View 4URalph developed his skating skills at Park View 4U
Ralph developed his skating skills at Park View 4U
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It was only after his shock death that it was discovered he had sarcoidosis, a rare throat condition which resulted in breathing complications.

The breathing problems caused Ralph to book a Covid-19 test and isolate until the result was known, but it came back negative, only for him to die from what a post-mortem examination revealed to be sarcoidosis shortly afterwards.

Neil and Fiona said he was renowned among family and friends for his smile and how much he cared about others and earlier this summer, the skate park at Park View there a distinctive revamp in his memory, including images of Ralph and the motto ‘Live Like Ralph’.

Details of the charity at www.livelikeralph.com

The Park View 4U skate park has been decorated in tribute to RalphThe Park View 4U skate park has been decorated in tribute to Ralph
The Park View 4U skate park has been decorated in tribute to Ralph

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