Friends set up tribute to computer game fan (From York Press)

Friends set up tribute to computer game fan Andrew Tiplady

8:15am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

THE friends of an online computer game fan are marking the first anniversary of his death by setting up a fundraising internet gaming tournament in his memory.

Andrew Tiplady, a cystic fibrosis sufferer from Haxby, died at the age of 31 while waiting for a lung transplant in January last year.

Unable to leave his home for long periods of time, Mr Tiplady made friends all over the world playing internet computer games, where he could link up with fellow enthusiasts.

Now his friends have launched what they hope will be an annual online event in Andrew’s memory to raise money for the lung charity Breathe Easy York, of which Andrew was co-founder.

Andrew Taylor, 46, who is setting up the tournament, said: “We came from similar backgrounds where we were both housebound. I set up a gaming clan in 2005 and Andrew joined and we ended up getting on straight away.

“We ended up having people all over the world joining us. We actually met up in Blackpool and got on really well.

“But this is exactly why I game online; I am unable to get out and we were both there all the time.

“You are all on an equal footing when you are online.

“All our members are scattered around the world, so we had to make any tribute an online thing.”

Mr Taylor said the first event, running this month, would be an introduction for those who wanted to get involved, with the tournament becoming a full-scale event next year. The event uses the game Call Of Duty - United Offensive, a particular favourite of Andrew.

For more information on the game and details on how to donate to Breathe Easy York, go to skullys-art.co.uk/doc.html