23/08/2026
Please share far & wide. This is local to my area and the whole community is in shock at this tragedy. If you can donate please do if not just share
๐ ๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง
I don't normally share GoFundMe appeals like this.
But when something this devastating happens so close to home, and there is an official GoFundMe set up to support the families, I feel this is something worth sharing with our community.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, tragedy struck on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.
At around 3.39am, a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 collided with a marked Cleveland Police Armed Response Vehicle.
Seven people lost their lives.
Two of those were serving Cleveland Police officers โ PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Thomas Clough, aged 38.
Five other people travelling in the Volkswagen also died.
Seven families are now facing an unimaginable loss.
๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐
Matthew was a husband and father of two.
Away from policing, he was heavily involved in grassroots sport and football. He had recently become a coach at Seaton Carew FC and was looking forward to coaching his own son.
To those who knew him, he was far more than a police officer โ he was a dad, coach, friend and someone who dedicated his time to helping others.
๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต
Tom was remembered by his family as someone with a fantastic sense of humour who was always willing to help others.
Before joining Cleveland Police, he had proudly served his country.
Two men who went to work to protect and serve their community should have been able to return home to their families.
They didn't.
๐ HOW WE CAN HELP
The official GoFundMe has been set up to support the families of PC Matthew Blades and PC Thomas Clough.
Donations will be split equally between the two families, who can use the money however they feel is appropriate as they face the incredibly difficult days, weeks and months ahead.
You don't have to donate.
You might not be able to.
But sharing this post costs absolutely nothing.
If everyone who sees this simply shares it, it could reach thousands more people across County Durham, Teesside and beyond.
And perhaps someone who can donate will see it.
๐ For Matthew.
๐ For Tom.
๐ For their families, friends and colleagues.
๐ For everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.
Please share.
Let's show these families that, even in the darkest circumstances, their community is standing behind them.
๐๏ธ Rest in peace, PC Matthew Blades and PC Thomas Clough.
You will not be forgotten.
๐ OFFICIAL GOFUNDME
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pc-matthew-blades-and-pc-thomas-clough
Please respect the families and those affected by this tragedy. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain subject to investigation, so please avoid speculation or unverified information.
