Fundraiser for PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough killed in A66 crash raises £1.25m

The families of PC Matthew Blades and PC Thomas Clough will share around £1.25m in fundraising.

The Cleveland Police officers were killed in August after a head-on collision on the A66, involving a car with five young men being driven down the wrong side of the carriageway.

In a statement on Monday, the Cleveland Police Federation (CPF) said the response to the appeal had been "truly overwhelming".

Their fundraiser on GoFundMe totalled just over £1.2m as of 9am, when donations were paused.

CPF secretary Carl Baker said: "There are simply not enough words to properly thank everyone for what you have done in memory of Matt and Tom.

"The kindness and generosity shown by people across the country, and beyond, has meant an enormous amount, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has stood behind both families during such an unimaginably difficult time."

A second fundraiser by former police officer Paul Cooper on the platform has raised around £54,000, as of the same time.

He has previously said his raised funds would also go to the family through the police federation. It has also been paused.

At the weekend, football fans paid their respects to the two constables, and other Cleveland Police officers, as the force continued to investigate a spate of incidents in the Middlesbrough area.

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Middlesbrough supporters applauded PC Blades and PC Clough before their Championship home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The club said in a statement before the match: "We are showing our appreciation for the dedication and hard work of both men, and to Cleveland Police force, in protecting and supporting our local community."

On Sunday, the sons of PC Blades led out Manchester United as mascots for a Premier League home match against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, which was also attended by his wife.

"Matthew was a proud Red, a devoted family man and a police officer who dedicated his life to helping others," the club said in a statement. "For Matt, some of his happiest times were spent watching United with his boys."

Cleveland Police have said 27 people have been arrested as part of their investigations since the collision on 22 August.

(c) Sky News 2026: Fundraiser for PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough killed in A66 crash raises £1.25m