THE brother of an ex-Barnoldswick cricketer has organised a charity cricket tournament to raise money for the trust that has enabled his brother to have two stem cell transplants.

Dave Scothern says that he and his wife, Andrea, decided that they wanted to say thank-you to the Antony Nolan Trust, a charity that finds suitable donors for people suffering from blood cancer.

Dave’s brother, Ian Scothern, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer – eight years ago.

The Anthony Nolan trust offered Ian a donor match and he underwent a stem cell transplant 2007.

Dave said: “They are a really fantastic charity and we just wanted to do something to help them.

“The trust says that at the moment, they are only finding donors for around half of the people who need them so we want to help them in their good work and find more.

“My brother did well after his first stem cell transplant but now he’s in a position where he needs another one and the charity has been able to help again which is just fantastic.”

Ian, 48, a dad of two, will travel to Leeds General Infirmary in September for his latest treatment.

Dave says he has been helped by family and friends from within the cricketing community to arrange and man the event, due to be held on Sunday at Barnoldswick Cricket Club and he thanks them for their support.

From 12pm, Ribblesdale League players past and present will play in the eight-aside tournament.

There will also be face painting for the children, a barbecue for the hungry as well as a raffle and an auction of signed Lancashire Cricket and Burnley Football Club shirts.

Each team will pay an admission of £100 and with donations also being collected online, the Scothern family look set to raise thousands.

Father of five Dave added: “I’ll be playing on the day and so will my brother, Michael.

“Ian was also a keen cricketer and played a lot in the 80s and 90s but he had to stop playing because of his health problems.

“It’s very sad that he can’t join us to play but we’re grateful that he can come along to watch and enjoy it.”