THE family of a teenager severely brain damaged in a car crash in Stanmore are hoping to raise the cash they need to begin his rehabilitation at home.

Corey Holliday, who celebrates his 19th birthday today (Thursday) from his hospital bed at Watford General, has not been home since the accident on November 8.

But having woken up from a five-and-a-half-month coma just last week, his family have been given renewed hope they can bring him back to their family home just outside Stanmore, in The Rutts, Bushey Heath.

They now hope to raise money to help fund his much-needed rehabilitation with a football tournament in Barnet this weekend.

His mum, Dawn Lord, said: "These last six months have been absolutely horrendous and we have had to deal with a tidal wave of bad news. Since the accident we have been told not to expect Corey to ever wake up, so it has been a boost for everyone to see him prove them wrong.

"He knows what's going on, he can hear and see but he is very severely brain damaged and we are just having to take everything one day at a time.

"We are holding this fundraiser because we want to be able to pay for the medical equipment that means we can bring him home.

"Obviously we want him back home and we think that with his family around him in an environment he knows is the best way to help his rehabilitation."

Corey was a passenger in the car with two friends when it careered off the road in The Common, Stanmore.

The driver and a friend, Shenol Ahmet, 19, were killed and the other, unnamed, friend has been undergoing physiotherapy since.

The family decided to hold a football tournament at the Power League site, in Bobby Moore Way, Barnet, because of Corey's love of football and because he played there on a regular basis before his injuries.

The event is on Sunday (2), from 11am-8pm.

Each player is charged a £5 entry fee and has to be sponsored to raise additional cash.

A raffle will be held as well as a fancy dress competition for children and adults. Children pay £1 to enter and adults £1.50.

There will be a barbecue, a licensed bar and a barber offering funky haircuts for donations.