The sister of a Kings Langley teenager who suddenly died after playing a football match in 2009 is organising a pink tie ball to mark what would have been his 21st birthday.

Dale Butler collapsed and died when 18 years old, while taking part in a Junior League football match in December 2009. The cause of death was recorded as Sudden Arythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) - a term used to describe sudden cardiac death.

Since then, his mother Angela Tennent-Butler, friends and family have organised events to raise money towards Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity dedicated to providing heart screening to young people.

Dale’s sister Vicci will hold the 21st Pink Tie Ball in memory of Dale on Saturday, October, 27 at Pendley Manor, in Tring. Dale would have been 21 a couple of weeks later, on November 11.

Angela said: "Vicci organised the ball as a surprise for us, however we found out. We will be there to enjoy the evening and hope to see around 150 people at the evening, which will include family and old friends.

"There will also be an auction to raise money for CRY."

Vicci hopes to raise money to have 200 hearts screened in Kings Langley School, where Dale was a former pupil. Heart screening will take place in the school on June 8 and 9 next year, following this year’s successful screening of 200 people in March.

Dale’s sister also hopes to raise enough money from the ball to donate a defibrillator to Kings Langley Primary School. 

Tickets are £45 each. To book, contact 01923 264 993 or email table.elegance@yahoo.co.uk.