A WEYMOUTH based company has raised thousands of pounds for a fund set up in memory of former Wey Valley School pupil Will Mackaness.

Screen printing specialist DEK presented a cheque for £3,000 to the Will Mackaness Fund which was set up in memory of the schoolboy who died aged 16 after battling a brain tumour.

The former Wey Valley School head boy died in August 2008, just minutes after receiving his GCSE results and after fighting the final stages of his illness to attend his school prom.

The fund set up in his memory aims to give young people the chance to learn watersports – one of Will’s passions.

DEK raised the money for the fund in a number of ways throughout 2009 including a sponsored triathlon consisting of a 94-mile cycle, 12-mile trek and five-mile kayak.

Other fundraising activities included selling scrap and obsolete stock and collection tins were distributed throughout the DEK building on the Granby Industrial Estate.

Will’s mother Pam Govier said she was very pleased with how much support the fund had received.

She said: “I value all the support that we have been given. The aim of the trust is to reach out to as many young people as possible so they are able to do watersports.

“It’s doing really well and we have high hopes for the future of the fund.”

DEK chairman John Knowles, said he was also delighted with how much had been raised.

He said: “As a major employer in the Weymouth area, DEK firmly believes in supporting the local community.

“We are delighted with the amount raised for The Will Mackaness Fund.”

DEK chooses a different charity to support each year and it has chosen Dorset’s children’s hospice Julia’s House as its official 2010 charity.