DORCHESTER RFC’s ambitious Rugbyathon event, which was held to boost its partner charities, as well as promote rugby, has raised more than £40,000.

The event, which took place just before the Rugby World Cup, featured an official Guinness World Record attempt to set a new record for the most number of participants in a continuous game of touch rugby – confirmation is still awaited as to whether this was successful – along with live music, a sausage and cider festival, rugby played all through the night with the finale being a charity ball with the guest speaker being Lee Mears, a former Bath and England rugby star.

The money was collected and at a recent gathering at Dorchester Rugby Club, co-organiser Martin Bartlett spoke about all the hard work that had gone into the day, the support from the charities and their volunteers, the extraordinary generosity of the sponsors of the event and the hard work of the club members.

He added: “It gives me enormous pleasure to announce that Rugbyathon raised a total of £40,000 to be shared between the rugby club and the charities.

“This is a phenomenal amount and whilst we could only have dreamt about achieving this it goes to show what can be achieved when an event captures the interest and support of the local community.”

The charities benefitting from the money raised are Julia’s House Hospice, Ducks & Drakes, The Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance, The Wooden Spoon Society and The Matt Hampson Foundation.

Cheques were presented to the various charities by club president Frank Dike.