The father of the late Peter McAvoy has said he was “absolutely, incredibly astonished” at the outpouring of support for a weekend of fundraising events in his son’s memory.
Peter McAvoy Sr was speaking as a huge crowd of family and friends gathered on the Law to be photographed by a drone and hold a raffle in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
It was a heart condition that caused the 22-year-old’s death in April at the American college where he was captain of the men’s football team.
The former Craigie High School pupil, who had played for Arbroath FC and Tayport FC as a defender, had been completing a scholarship at Herkimer College, New York State.
A series of tributes since then culminated in a special weekend that included a poker tournament, an auction, a zumbathon and a seven-a-side football competition for the Peter McAvoy Trophy.
It was the second gathering on the Law. The first was held shortly after Peter’s death when family and friends released 22 lanterns one for each year of his life.
Mr McAvoy Sr said: “We thought it brought things to a full circle to have the weekend’s events back here. People just want to show their support.
“We have been absolutely, incredibly astonished. Words fail me in fact in terms of the level of support we have had.”
He thanked all the participants and sponsors and said the family had also appreciated the number of people who had got in touch to wish them well.
“It’s from all over the world social media really has made it an international campaign of tributes, so I am just delighted by that,” he said.
As to what his son would have made of it all, he said: “He would firstly probably be a bit embarrassed, then he would be chuffed.
“I have been hearing stories about him that I didn’t know and they have all been stories about how generous he has been and how friendly he has been with people and I am just so proud of him.”