Oldham Owls founder’s funeral

THE funeral of David Foden, who founded the Oldham Owls wheelchair basketball club, will take place tomorrow.

The 64 year old died at the Christie Hospital on April 28. He leaves wife Shelley, children Matthew and Emma, brother John and mother Mary.

Mr Foden was paralysed from the waist down after he was struck by polio at the age of seven, but he refused to let his disability affect him. After discovering a love for sport, Mr Foden founded Oldham Owls with Peter Haslam in 1974 to give other disabled people the chance to stay active.

Over the years Mr Foden competed in many sporting events, including marathons at the National Paraplegic Games. He won the Polio Sportsman of the Year award in 1973.

Mr Foden’s funeral will take place at Blackley Cemetery and Crematorium at 12.30pm. The family have asked for donations to the Eriskay Pony Society or Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue instead of flowers.