'I want Joshua's legacy to live on': Dad's heartfelt plea after son's suicide as Baton Of Hope comes to Leeds

The father of a former Leeds United Academy player, who sadly took his own life at the age of just 31, hopes his son's legacy will live on.

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Keen artist Joshua Van Leader played semipro for a team in Atlanta, USA, and the Adelaide Rangers, in Australia.

The aspiring fashion designer, who studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, created and grew his own clothing label JVL.

But after a series of health problems he returned back to his Leeds home and created an extensive collection of artwork, along with poetry and a colouring-in book aimed at helping others with their mental health. Joshua died by suicide aged just 31 in 2002.

And now a striking exhibition of his work is running at Moda in New York Square, Quarry Hill, until September 30, as the city marks World Suicide Prevention Day this week with the Baton of Hope tour passing through the city tomorrow (Wednesday).

It is running alongside a full programme of mental wellbeing events and displays, including the Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt, which is made of memorial squares, each dedicated to loved ones lost to suicide, and will be on show until September 19.