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Former sports journalist remembered in Father’s Day tribute

Ralph EllisA popular sports journalist who died in 2018 was among those remembered in a Father’s Day tribute organised by Prostate Cancer UK.

Ralph Ellis, left, who raised more than £15,000 for the charity after his diagnosis, was among many dads honoured on the charity’s online Father’s Day hub, where family can leave messages and tributes.

Ralph was a “legendary” sports reporter who started his career on the Western Daily Press, before moving to the Birmingham Evening Mail and the Daily Star.

The Ellis family continue to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK since his death, completing the March for Men UK 5k run last year.

Ralph’s son Matt Ellis posted a tribute on the site from his family, describing his father as his “hero”.

“Happy Father’s Day to my hero, Ralph Ellis. He was a great man, loved by all and his legacy lives on in all of us. We miss you every day Popsy, love Matt, Jamie and Ray xxx.”

Speaking to the Bristol Post, Matt described how he and his father cycled from London to Amsterdam to raise money for the charity not long after he’d been diagnosed with prostate cancer

“We cycled from the Olympic Stadium in London to the Ajax Arena in Amsterdam. First day we cycled out to Harwich and got the ferry overnight which landed in the Hague.

“And then we cycled from there to Amsterdam. The first day was about 80 miles and the second day was 50. The second day was a lot easier because Holland is really flat!

“We raised just over £15k so it was a really pleasing amount of money.”