FAMILY and friends of a popular college student gathered for a party marking the second anniversary of his death.

Eighteen-year-old Sam Baker, from Hanford, died in a car crash as he drove home from his girlfriend's house on February 15, 2010.

Sam's friends Dale Cooper and Ollie Wright organised a fund-raising night at Power League at Trentham Lakes yesterday in his memory.

Dale, who attended Trentham High School with Sam, said the event was a celebration of his friend's life.

The 20-year-old, of Oakhill, said: "Last year's event was really good. Around 200 people came and we raised around £1,000 for charity. So we decided to do the same thing again this year, as a way of remembering Sam.

"When the anniversary comes around it can be difficult, but I think it's better to come together and celebrate Sam's life, rather than being sad on your own. It's what he would have wanted.

The cash which Dale and Ollie helped to raise last year was split between the Douglas Macmillan Hospice, in Blurton, and Trentham Lakes' Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust.

This year they were hoping to raise a similar amount for the 'CF Unit at UHNS' group, which is campaigning for a dedicated cystic fibrosis unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

They chose this charity as their friend Aaron Hall has cystic fibrosis.

Ollie, aged 19, of Trentham, said the event was a fitting way of remembering Sam.

He said: "Whenever you needed cheering up, Sam was the person you went to. He always had the biggest smile.

"If he could see what we were doing to remember him he'd probably be embarrassed that we were making such a fuss. But it's the sort of thing he'd really enjoy.

"We had a great response from local businesses who donated lots of prizes for the raffle. My mum has been very busy ringing them up over the last week."

Prizes for the raffle included a signed Stoke City football, tickets for Alton Towers and a free MOT.

Ollie's mum Linda Wright, aged 50, of Trentham, said: "Sam was very well liked by his friends, and I think it's great that they're doing all this to remember him. They're a credit to themselves."

Sam, a popular sportsman who studied at Newcastle College, died when his Ford Ka hit a tree in Wedgwood Drive, Barlaston.

His friends said the memorial event was helping them cope with his death.

Tom Davis, aged 18, of Trentham, said: "I knew Sam really well. He was a real charmer, who always had a big smile on his face whenever you spoke to him."

Rhys Carter, aged 18, of Penkhull, said: "I knew Sam from going down Hanford Cricket Club. He was a really good mate, and it was so hard for everyone when died. It's brilliant that we can all come together and remember him like this."