A KEEN cricketer is urging residents to stump up cash for the cancer support charity which helped him overcome the disease.

All-rounder Mark Bennett, 39, of Kidderminster, wants to repay a debt of gratitude to Macmillan Cancer Support, whose nurses helped him through the life-threatening illness.

He has gathered 22 fellow cricketers for a charity match at Cookley Cricket Club, Lea Lane, on April 12 - a week after his 40th birthday.

Mr Bennett, in the prime of life at 23, was diagnosed with Hodgkinsons Lymphoma.

He explained: "With cancer it is the unknown which hits you.

"You are told you have got cancer and will have X amount of chemotherapy and 12 treatments of radiotherapy but I just didn't know what it would really entail.

"The Macmillan nurses told me exactly what would happen, like losing my hair, feeling lethargic and getting constipated."

Mr Bennett, of Dunnington Avenue, battled cancer for a year but it was another decade before he was in remission and "out of danger."

He said, with his 40th birthday on the horizon, it was time to repay the Macmillan nurses' kindness.

Invitations have gone out to Wyre Forest, Worcestershire and several West Midlands cricket clubs for members to support the fund-raiser but the ground's gates are open to all on the day.

The players taking to the field include Mr Bennett, who is Cookley Cricket Club first XI captain, and members of Kidderminster Victoria, Ombersley, Chaddesley Corbett, Stourport and Bewdley cricket clubs.

Players take the field at 1.30pm for a 25 over game.

This will be followed by a lunch of hot dogs and burgers, ending with a 10 over clincher, with the best side overall taking victory.

All of the cricketers are paying £10 to play while spectators will be asked to donate to collection tins and buy a raffle ticket for the draw in the clubhouse after the game.

Event organisers have been boosted by some impressive raffle prizes, including two tickets to a Worcestershire Cricket Club game, excluding Twenty20 matches, a meal for two at the Mare and Colt pub and a bottle of champagne.