A martial arts club in Moray is preparing to host its first memorial tournament in honour of a former member.
Dion Yates, from Lossiemouth, lost her battle with cancer in August last year when she was just 18 years old.
The kickboxing fanatic was a popular member of Empower Martial Arts in the town and helped encourage younger members, even vowing to continue coaching if she needed to have a leg amputated to halt the disease.
Now her former club has invited competitors from across Scotland to take part in a tournament to remember the teenager.
More than 70 fighters from eight separate clubs will be doing battle at the weekend in the Dion Yates Memorial Open.
Miss Yates’ former coach, Lisa Clarkson, said: “I made a promise to Dion the day before she died that every year I would hold this event.
“The aim is to keep her name and memory alive for this sport was her passion and she fought until the end.”
Money raised from the event will be donated to The Archie Foundation, which supports sick children across the north of Scotland.
Miss Yates was first diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, when she was just 15.
She underwent a year of treatment and was given the all-clear in 2014 before the family received the devastating news it had returned two years later.
Just nine months before she died, Empower presented the teen with an honorary black belt to recognise her courage.
The event takes place at Lossiemouth Sport and Community Centre on Sunday from 9am. Entry £5.
