On Saturday 25 July, a ‘much loved’ Fox Soccer Academy coach Bobby Davis lost his home in a fire spreading across a row of flats at Belgrave Walk, Mitcham.
The fire, which is still under investigation by London Fire Brigade, engulfed six neighbouring homes and displaced an estimated 35 residents.
All three floors and the roof of the building were set alight, with 125 firefighters arriving from approximately 3:10pm and eventually taming the flames nearly three hours later.
Bobby Davis is part of the Morden sub-division of Fox Soccer Academy, founded by Leicester Premier League title winner Christian Fuchs.
Davis was able to escape, accompanied by his cat and dog, but a GoFundMe set up in his name stated that: “Bobby and his family have lost absolutely everything.”
The fundraiser has a target of £8000, and at time of writing currently stands at more than £6300.
This is to help the coach and his family “replace the essential items they have lost, secure temporary accommodation if needed, and begin rebuilding their lives after this devastating tragedy.”
Davis joined years ago as a player and now serving as one of the organisation’s most “valued coaches” he has been described as greatly influential in the development and upbringing of many children across the south London area.
With numerous other residents impacted, a sponsored event titled ‘Wheels of Solidarity: 100km for the Mitcham Estate Fire’ has also been hosted on GoFundMe, and said the fire “wiped out decades of memories, childhood photos, and the basic right to a safe home.”
The campaign, which took place on Sunday 2 August, saw organiser Jake Buckley ride from Belgrave Walk, before moving past other sites of housefires: west to Kingston’s 2010 Madingley Fire, east through Camberwell’s 2009 Lakanal House tragedy, north-west to Grenfell Tower (2017), and back across to east London for the historic 1968 Ronan Point disaster.
He wanted to connect various different sites of fire-related incidents across London in hopes of raising both funds for those affected and awareness for a wider social issue.
Featured image credit: Francesco Sommacal via Pexels.com
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