A RUGBY club will hold an annual tournament in memory of a player's daughter after its inaugural event collected more than £4,500.

Damian Smith, 29, and partner Claire Lewyskyji were devastated when their daughter, Roxie, died in her sleep just days after her first birthday in August.

The baby had been recovering from common childhood virus hand, foot and mouth and was on medicine for a throat infection when the tragedy struck.

Roxie's parents, who live in Bierley, are still waiting for an official cause of death but have been told the virus may have spread to her brain and stopped her breathing.

To show them support, Dudley Hill Rugby League Club organised a tournament with teams from across the Bradford amateur game, and some select sides, at the weekend where they released pink balloons from the pitch in Roxie's memory.

Proceeds from the day will be going to Elliot's Footprint, a charity chosen by Roxie's family to help support other families like them rebuild their lives after losing a child.

The charity, set up by a Leeds family, is also campaigning for better bereavement services in the region.

"We feel we can relate to this charity and we are wanting to help in anyway possible to improve the support for infant loss especially over the age of one-year-old as there isn't enough in the West Yorkshire area," said Mr Smith.

"We don't know why Roxie died. She was getting better from this virus that they call hand, foot and mouth. It's common in children but any complication is very, very rare.

"We are still waiting for test results before we can get a cause of death, if we ever do get at all because the results may all come back inconclusive."

Mr Smith said Sunday's event at Dudley Hill had been a fantastic effort by everyone involved, both the organisers and the supporters.

"It means a lot to us to have everyone's support for us and our beautiful daughter Roxie. The rugby tournament will be an annual event now and we've got a family member running the York ten mile run for us.

"We're going to have lots more events organised next year too. We'll keep doing this."

Miss Lewyskji, who also has a son Lennon aged five, said Roxie's death had turned their whole world upside down.

The family has searched the internet for hours trying to find relevant help and get information about infant death of children aged over one.

"We have struggled to find anything other than Elliot's Footprint," she said.

So far, money raised by family, friends and wellwishers totals nearly £7,000 for the charity.

Visit www.justgiving.com/Damian-Smith4 to donate.