Former Manchester United youngster Joe Thompson died aged 36 in April
His old Rochdale team-mate Chris Ramsden is doing a fundraiser for his family
Ramsden will work out for 37 consecutive hours for his Just Giving fundraiser
By LUKE POWER
Published: 10:20 EDT, 4 June 2025 | Updated: 10:20 EDT, 4 June 2025
A former footballer will exercise for 37 hours without sleep to raise money for a late ex-team-mate's family.
Simon Ramsden will complete more than one-and-a-half days of back-to-back workout classes in Sunderland from June 27 to June 29 in memory of Joe Thompson.
Thompson, a former Manchester United academy starlet, died aged 36 in April after his third battle with cancer.
The duo played at Rochdale together for six years and Ramsden calls Thompson a 'special man'. Ramsden has shared a Just Giving page with the target of raising £3,000.
Thompson leaves behind his wife Chantelle and two daughters, Thailula and Athena Rae, after losing his battle with lymphona, a type of blood cancer.
'Joe was a special man, anyone who knows Joe will vouch that he was like no other and he’s been a special friend to me and something I will always treasure,' Ramsden wrote on Instagram.
Simon Ramsden (left) is raising money for his former team-mate Joe Thompson's (right) family
Former footballer Thompson, who beat cancer twice, died from lymphoma last month
Man United paid tribute to their former academy player, stating that Thompson 'epitomised our club's values'
Thompson made over 200 appearances for Rochdale before his retirement in 2019
'He led the way in every aspect of his life for the rest of us to follow and will forever be in our hearts and his legacy goes on.
'I want to raise as much money as possible from this event to provide a holiday for Joe’s kids and for anything the family need at a time like this.'
Tributes poured in for Thompson from his old clubs and team-mates after he died.
Glenn Murray said: 'He was an unmatched energy all those years ago and it's something that he carried throughout his life.
'He was a shining light, even through illness and dark times in his life. He carried himself so well.'
Thompson had previously been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013 and recovered before the cancer returned four years later. He went on to recover a second time before calling time on his career in 2019.
Thompson's playing career included spells at Rochdale, Tranmere, Southport, Bury and Carlisle United, before he retired in 2019.
He became a regular pundit on MUTV following his retirement and held an ambassadorial role, along with working as a motivational speaker and life coach.
Manchester United