A CHARITY football match held in memory of a former co-worker who died from cancer has raised more than £600.

Staff and customers from builders’ merchants Travis Perkins recently got together to play in memory of former employee Norman Scammell.

Mr Scammell worked in the Dorchester store and sadly passed away from cancer last year.

The match was held at Portland United’s ground in Grove Road earlier this month, with money from the event going towards the firm’s new charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

A team from Weymouth took on a team from Dorchester on the day, with a barbeque taking place beforehand.

The Weymouth branch, managed by Brendon King, came out 8-3 winners on the day.

Ben Hadwin, event organiser, said the day was a success, even despite being manager of the losing Dorchester team.

He said: “It went really, really well. It went a lot better than we thought it would.

“The total’s up to £685 now.

“We still get money every now and again being put in the bucket on the counter as well.”

Mr Hadwin's initial target for the event had been to raise £500. Whilst entry to the event was free, buckets were circulated on the day collecting donations.

The fundraising event is expected to be the first of many for the builders’ merchants, following the launch of the charity partnership with Macmillan.

The partnership aims to raise £3 million for people affected by cancer over the next three years.

Mr Hadwin, a sales assistant at the Dorchester branch, said: “We’re going to hold either two or three events a year. In August we are going to do a cricket match.

“In the winter we are going to think of something else to do.

“We want to try each time as much as we can to raise money for Macmillan because it touches everybody.”

Mr Hadwin said organisers wished to thank the match sponsors, Bluebird Coaches, Ayya Bars and Gentz Barbers, in Dorchester.

Special thanks were also paid to Portland United FC, which allowed use of their ground and kits for both sides to play in.