THE dad and friends of a Padgate teenager who died after a town centre attack are running the Great Manchester Run to raise money in his memory.

Stuart Lowe died at the age of 18, a week after he was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver on Sankey Street in the early hours of October 18, 2007, following a Priestley College night out.

Friends of the popular former Woolston High School pupil vowed to keep his memory alive and set up the Stuart Lowe Trust Fund to raise funds in his honour and so far have raised around £15,000.

A group of around 20 fundraisers will be taking part in the Great Manchester Run next Sunday wearing t-shirts bearing his name and picture as a tribute to the former Rylands Sharks rugby player.

Kevin Lowe, Stuart’s dad, said: “I want to thank Stuarts’ friends for all their love and support they have given me.

“This is the second Manchester 10km run we have done in aid of The Stuart Lowe Memorial Trust Fund.

“It was very emotional for me when we crossed the finish line last year as we all crossed it together holding hands in unity.

“There are a lot more doing the run this year so that might not be possible, we will try though.”

He added: “I know Stuart would be very proud of what we are doing. I still can’t believe it’s Stuart we are talking about, it still feels like it only happened yesterday. I miss him so much.”

Stuart’s best friend and fellow Sharks player Chris Lee will be among those running the race.

The 19-year-old said: “Doing things in memory of Stuart is not something I ever thought I would be doing but I’m really glad we are doing this and keeping his memory alive – we hope to keep raising money in Stuart’s memory for years and years.

“I knew Stuart since we were three – we grew up together. We lived down the road from each other and went to the same nursery and then Oakwood Primary School.

“We were out together on the night of the attack and I was at his bedside for the seven days afterwards.

“It is still really difficult without him being around. He was a quiet lad but he lived his 18 years to the full.”

Yvonne Lowe, Stuart’s mum, added: “I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in raising money in Stuart’s memory.

“It is fantastic that his friends are running the Great Manchester Run for him and that they are thinking of Stuart as we do every day.”

The cash raised will be split between St Margaret’s Church, in Orford, where Stuart was christened and is now buried and the Walton Centre, in Liverpool – the specialist neurological unit where he spent a week before he died and the Friends of the Donor Family Network.

l Anyone wanting to donate to Stuart’s fund can send cheques addressed to Stuart Lowe Trust Fund to the Warrington Guardian, The Academy, Bridge Street, WA1 2RU.