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Daily fights to help care for Alzheimer’s-stricken sporting hero

A regional daily is fighting to help keep one of its patch’ssporting heroes in the home where he is being cared for after being struck down by Alzheimer’s.

The Lancashire Telegraph has launched a front page plea to help pay for the £4,000-per-month care costs of former Blackburn Rovers footballer and coach Tony Parkes.

Mr Parkes, who made more than 300 appearances between 1970 and 1982 and served as the club’s caretaker-manager on six occasions, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019.

But his daughter Natalie has now set up a crowdfunding appeal to help support her father after struggling under the financial strain of the costs arising from his care.

LT Tony

The Blackburn-based Telegraph splashed on the appeal’s launch yesterday (1), pictured above.

Roger Airey, deputy regional editor for Newsquest Lancashire and Greater Manchester, told HTFP: “When we saw Natalie’s Crowdfunder appeal it was heart-breaking to read how Tony’s health had deteriorated and how it had placed the family in an awful situation.

“Their money is running out and it would a tragedy if Tony had to be taken from the home where he is settled.

“This is a man who gave his working life to Blackburn Rovers as a player and a coach and is hugely respected by top names in the sport such as Roy Hodgson, Sir Kenny Dalglish and Alan Shearer who all worked with him down the years.

“Whenever he was asked to step up when managers departed, he repeatedly took the reins as caretaker-manager and excelled. A more loyal servant to Blackburn Rovers you’d be incredibly hard-pushed to find.

“Now we’re asking the fans and everyone who loves the club to step up and help Tony’s family in their hour of need.”