LITTLE Olivia Sampson, who tragically lost her daddy, has inspired an army of fund-raisers.

Hugging her cuddly heart to her chest, she will know in time that

her father will never be forgotten.

Darren 'Sam' Sampson, whom friends say was full of life, loved playing football and was about to be married. Apparently fit and healthy, a coronary thrombosis struck at 2.30am on Monday, May 16. He was aged just 40.

Now the weekly football league in Worcester where Darren played has started a trust fund for one-year-old Olivia - pictured right and, above, with Darren when she was just a baby - by holding a round-robin tournament.

His friends have also decided to try to increase awareness of the condition that killed Darren - who was popular and well known in Pershore as owner of The Warehouse shop - by raising funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Tomorrow, six members of staff at Ogle's Spa salon in Pershore, headed by one of his friends, Mark Preston, are doing a sponsored 10,000ft sky dive. The money raised - currently estimated at £2,000 - will be given to the British Heart Foundation.

Darren's mother, Connie Sampson, is still coming to terms with her loss and remembers the evening before his death.

He finished his Sunday

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shift, went to pick up a meal she had cooked and went home. He played with Olivia, gave her a bath, and had his meal. He watched the television and complained to his fiance, Sarah Haynes, of chronic indigestion.

They went to bed about 12.30am. Two hours later, he switched the light on and the heart attack struck.

"Bang - he didn't have time to say anything to Sarah," said Mrs Sampson.

"The doctors said it was a massive heart attack caused by a blood clot.

"Everybody who met him thought the world of him. He was very kind hearted and if you met him you would never forget him.

"He used to say why have dreams when you can have memories - it's something I've been thinking about a lot recently," said Mrs Sampson, aged 58.

The avid West Ham supporter was set to marry Sarah, on Saturday, July 30, and become the adoptive father of her daughter, 13-year-old Lauren.

Anyone wishing to donate to the BHF through the skydive appeal should ring Ogles Spa on 01386 553707.