On the 3rd July 2020 former Nottingham Forest player Derrick Otim tragically died in a drowning accident in South Carolina, USA,. Derrick had progressed through the schoolboy age groups at the Nottingham Forest Academy before becoming a full time scholar in 2013. Following his release from Forest in 2016 he went to Xavier University in Cincinnati to study and was a key part of their football team for whom he played 70 matches, scored seven goals and registered 10 assists.

The tragic loss of such a promising young man has understandably devastated the family. Derricks mum Joy now looks after his brother and sister as well her granddaughter in their family home in St Ann's in Nottingham. Single mum Joy, who is a mental health nurse, now has some serious health issues of her own and is also having to work less to care for her sister who has recently suffered a stroke.

In these incredibly tough times for Joy we now have the chance to bring a little happiness into her life and ensure that Joy knows, that whatever happens in the next couple of years, she and her family will be secure. With this in mind we are trying to raise enough money so that Joy can buy her council home. Our aim is to raise as much of the target as possible but don't be put off by the size, any and all donations will be appreciated and make it a little easier for Joy. We have a very limited period where we can do that so need to act now!

I am asking all the Nottingham Forest and football family, as well as anybody who knows the family or Derrick to come together to bring a ray of sunshine into a very dark place. If all of us just donated 1 days wage (or whatever we can afford) to the family we could achieve this and look after the family of one of our own.

Many Thanks,

Nick Marshall

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/campaign-launched-help-stricken-family-6203556