THE friends of road crash victim Chris Greenow are holding a fundraising football match so that his family can continue holding a vigil at his hospital bedside.

Chris, known as Gee to his friends, remains in a coma at Frenchay Hospital following a horrific crash near Dymock.

The 26-year-old from Drybrook was driving to see his girlfriend when his car collided with a lamp post and rolled into a field.

Since the crash on April 9, the amateur footballer's family and friends have been travelling back and forth to the hospital in Bristol, making sure that someone is with him all the time.

"We are all visiting him regularly and his family and long-term girlfriend are always at his bedside," said his friend, Alex Goode.

"They travel to and from Bristol every day or stay in local B&Bs in order to have better access to their son and support him.

"With being off work and the costs of staying there or travelling it all adds up.

"We decided to help and raise some money by having a football match as it was Gee's favourite pastime."

Alex and another of Chris's friends, Jody Taylor, arranged the charity football match which will kick off at Harrow Hill Football Club at 2pm this Sunday.

Chris's friends will be playing members of his current team United Longhope.

From 1.30pm there will be bouncy castles for the kids as well as a barbecue and a pig roast.

A raffle will also be held offering prizes including free dinner tickets at local restaurants, free haircuts and pamper days and even a free helicopter ride.