WHEN 15-year-old Michael Patterson died in his sleep, he had already packed an impressive amount into his life.The Tae Kwon Do world champion left a lasting impression on all who met him and they are now determined to turn his memory into something everyone can see."When Mike passed away there were so many people who were very upset," says 15-year-old Amy Mallaband, one of the John Taylor High School pupil's close friends."We felt there was nothing practical we could do to cheer us up or help in any way. But then a couple of people had the idea of having a skate park in memorial to him."It would indeed be a fitting tribute to Michael, whose death at the end of last month at the family home in Park End, Lichfield, remains unexplained.An avid skateboarder, as well as Tae Kwon Do champ, rugby player, athlete and one-time junior boxer, the teenager was fully behind a previous attempt to establish a facility in Beacon Park.Another close friend, Amber Flemming-Smith, set up the Michael Patterson Skate Park page on social networking site Facebook."By the next day we had over 100 fans and now we have over 1,200 fans, which is absolutely amazing," adds Amy.Together with other mutual mates Jamie Sporcic, Jess Brannigan and Pat Heaney, wheels really started to roll."We were all very close to Mike and decided that we were really going to make this happen," Amy says."The first idea we had to raise money was the Shenstone Fun Run and so far that has been a big hit – there are so many people who are running it in aid of him."We came up with posters and banners and arranged for lots of people to gather in Lichfield."There was a very good turnout and about 30 skaters, including the girls, were going around Lichfield with a petition, posters and the fun run entry forms."We then got ourselves a place on Speaker's Corner which was a big hit – there were so many supporters of us."The new campaign follows on from previous attempts to get a skate park built in the city, a cause fully supported by Michael himself."Mike was out nearly every night skating, as are many skaters in Lichfield," adds Amy."He was someone that was passionate about it, so we are not going to shut up until we get this for him!"We are happy to raise all the money ourselves, which will take a lot of time and effort, but we're happy to donate this for Michael."We are not around to cause trouble, or look like big gangs hanging around."The lads are just people who want to continue to do a sport but the nearest skate park to us is Fradley, which is an expensive bus journey away."We are a group of people that were very good friends with Mike who want to make a name for him."It is a cause which has the thumbs-up from Michael's family, who have been bowled over by the massive public reaction after his death and turnout for his funeral on Tuesday, May 12."We fully support everything they are trying to do," says his mum Eileen Patterson."They are great role models and show there is real hope for the young of today."They are respectful, very organised, enthusiastic and are just what people want youngsters to be."And Michael's friends are also doing a lot for the image of all skateboarders, adds Mrs Patterson."Skateboarders can have a very negative image but everyone who meets Michael's friends would see that is not a true reflection," she says proudly."Michael would be so pleased; he would have thoroughly enjoyed this campaign because he truly believed Lichfield desperately needs a skate park."
