Family say thanks for help in hunt; Desperate for news of Steven

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), April 11, 2008

Byline: By KATIE CAMPLING News Reporter

THE family of missing Golcar man Steven Cooper say they have been overwhelmed by the support people have given them since his disappearance.

Mr Cooper vanished from his home on Scar Lane in Golcar during the early hours of January 21 - his 47th birthday.

His Ford Focus car was found near the village of Moy, near Inverness, in Scotland six days later, but an intensive police search was called off after a month.

There have been no sightings of him and he has not used his bank accounts.

His family have since held four market stalls at Huddersfield Open Market, selling donated goods to raise money for missing person's charities, including Missing People, who have been helping the family in their search for Steven.

So far, the family have raised pounds 1,120. They are also donating pounds 400 each to Cairngorm Mountain Rescue and the Search and Rescue Dog Association, who helped look for Steven in Scotland.

His sister Trish Cooper, from Brockholes, said: "Anything we can do to raise awareness for the charities is good. Missing People have been absolutely amazing. We can't thank everyone enough for the help they've given us. We are just overwhelmed."

The family will hold further fundraising events for missing person's charities. The next will be a charity auction on June 7 at New Mill Working Men's Club, complete with a pie and pea supper and 60s disco.

Trish, 39, said the fundraising was a way of keeping busy for her, brothers Mark and Chris, their mother Margaret and step-father Donald, Mr Cooper's partner Claire, his son Nathan 19 and step-children Ian, 15, and 18-year-old Zoe.

Trish said: "There's just no news. We don't know what more we can do to try and find him.

We are extremely worried about his health and state of mind.

"I can't believe it's over 11 weeks since he left.

It's heartbreaking. His son Nathan is desperately missing him, as we all are."

Mr Cooper suffers from a rare condition, Marfan Syndrome, which means he has some difficulty walking and sometimes uses a stick.

He is 6ft 2in tall and slim, with blue/green eyes and short, thinning blond hair.

When last seen he was wearing a dark blue waterproof jacket, a three-coloured striped grey jumper, blue jeans, a blue and white checked shirt and grey walking shoes.

Anyone with any information should call free phone 0800 700740.

To offer donations for the charity auction, contact Trish on 07775704356.

CAPTION(S):

HEARTBROKEN: Trish Cooper, left, and mum Margaret Cooper