A MAN from Bromsgrove has raised over £2,000 for charity after organising a 12 hour five a side football match.

The gruelling football marathon at Goal Soccer Centre in Rowley Regis saw over ten men lace up their boots on August 9 in aid of Primrose Hospice.

Gursh Channa, an NHS IT consultant, decided to organised the event to help the charity after a decrease in fundraising over the Covid pandemic.

"Charities are really struggling at the moment, so myself and my wife wanted to do something to play our part and help the community," said Gursh.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Gursh Channa and a staff member of Morrisons Bromsgrove, who provided food and drink for the 12 hour stint. Gursh Channa and a staff member of Morrisons Bromsgrove, who provided food and drink for the 12 hour stint.

"I have been thinking about doing something like this for a while so thanks to the help of a few guys it all came together.

"My original target was £5,000 as I have never organised a charity event before and didn't know how high to aim.

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"However, I am so chuffed with the amount we have raised and it has been so surprising with how generous people are, especially in these times."

Morrisons in Bromsgrove kindly supplied the group with food and drink to keep them going throughout the day.

Starting at 9:30am, the majority of players were on the pitch for around seven or eight hours as a substitution system was in place to allow time for breaks.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Gursh's daughter, Sienna, aged 8, blew the starting whistle. Gursh's daughter, Sienna, aged 8, blew the starting whistle.

Gursh, aged 38 added: "When I told everyone the length of time we would be playing fro everyone said it is a big deal - the bigger the challenge the more money is hopefully raised.

"It was a lot harder than I expected, by the seventh hour I couldn't feel my legs.

"I wanted to get my daughter involved, Sienna, so she blew the starting whistle, kicking the match off."

To donate visit Gursh's Justgiving page.