CLOSE friends of schoolboy Kyle Rees have spoken about why they are determined to keep their friend’s memory alive.

The 16-year-old died after a tragic accident earlier this year when he was struck on the head by a cricket ball at Portchester School.

He was treated at Southampton Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit and his friends at Portchester, now known as Harewood College, and Avonbourne College have launched a fundraising initiative.

Dubbed Team 4K, Daniel May, Louis Rylance, Tom Mansfield, Reece McAneny and Sinitija Morgan have designed and produced “4 Kyle” wristbands.

They have been loaned £1,000 by Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones as part of the Peter Jones Tycoon in Schools contest and hope to convert the cash into £4,000 profit.

Speaking about their friend, Sinitija, said: “Kyle was a really close friend of all of ours and we’re determined that his memory will live on.

“This is a great way for us all to remember him and help bring us all together. We’ve been working really closely with Kyle’s mum who is so supportive and is like a second mum to us. She has made love bugs to represent the love we all have for Kyle which we are selling at the same time as the wristbands.”

Reece said: “This has been a meaningful experience, which means a lot to us and feels personal because we are able to support Kyle’s family and keep him in our hearts.”

And Tom added: “I am glad to be able to raise money in memory of Kyle. Working to support the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton is a way of keeping him in our thoughts because I know Kyle would have done the same.”

l You can buy wristbands and follow the Team 4K’s progress on Facebook - facebook.com/4kcharity – and on Twitter by following @4K_charity