Hatton Family Receives Widespread Support Following Ricky Hatton's Death
Campbell Hatton, son of the late Ricky Hatton, expressed that the family has been unable to grieve privately following the former world light-welterweight and welterweight champion's death last September at age 46. Despite this, Campbell described the support from fans and the public as a "blessing."
Thousands of people lined the route of the funeral procession from Hyde to Manchester Cathedral in October 2024, demonstrating the widespread respect and admiration for Ricky Hatton.
"As a family we've not been able to grieve with any privacy and there's a lot of negatives that have come from that - but if there's a positive, it's that people walking down the street say nice things and check up on us. That's the blessing behind it," Campbell, who is also a professional boxer, told BBC Radio Manchester.
"To everyone it's heartbreaking. Not just Manchester, the whole country and the sport are heartbroken because they have lost Ricky Hatton but it's just my dad to me."
Campbell highlighted the pride the family felt in Ricky Hatton's fanbase and the ongoing support they continue to receive.
"We were all so proud of the fanbase he had but to see it day to day... It's nice.
"It shocked me the most at the funeral when we were in the cars making our way to the cathedral.
"There wasn't a part of the route that wasn't full of people. You couldn't see a bit of pavement for the three hours we were in the car.
"We knew how popular he was but to actually see it in front of you was something else and we can't thank people enough."
Evening4Ricky Event to Celebrate Hatton's Legacy
A special event, Evening4Ricky, is scheduled for Sunday, 7 June at Manchester Arena, a venue where Ricky Hatton achieved some of his greatest career successes. The event aims to celebrate the life and career of the much-loved boxer.
"I think everyone in boxing, if they're available, they want to be here and that is a testament to the man he was. It's massive for people," Campbell said.
"I think it will be impossible for it to end up being a sad occasion. It's going to be a great night."
Mental Health Awareness and the Ricky Hatton Foundation
The Evening4Ricky event will raise funds for the Ricky Hatton Foundation, a mental health charity established the month after Ricky Hatton's death. The foundation's mission includes raising awareness of mental health challenges, reducing stigma around mental illness, and providing direct support through talking therapies and community programs.
Ricky Hatton had been open about his struggles with mental health, including episodes of poor mental health, issues with alcohol and drugs, and past suicide attempts following his second retirement from boxing in 2012.
"I think it's getting a worse and worse problem. Just before my dad passed away, I lost one of my best mates to suicide as well and it's a problem that is not going to go anywhere unless we do something about it. The more we can do about it the better," said Campbell, aged 25.
"For the last couple of years, it's been spoken about plenty but actually going and doing it is harder than it sounds.
"I've had my own battles and I heard it all the time that you should be talking - but to get yourself there and do it is the hard bit.
"Once you've started it's easy. I still do it now every week and it helps. It works.
"He [Ricky] was doing a lot for mental health himself. He was always an ambassador for it. It was what he saw his purpose as after boxing and I think we should continue doing that in his name."
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