A GROUP of club members are to stage a testing 12-hour snooker marathon in aid of a hospice in memory of a friend.

The 14 men from the Athenaeum Club in Church Street in Hartlepool will be raising cash for the town’s hospice to mark the death of Peter Skeet (CORR), 57, who died recently.

The engineer who lived in the Foggy Furze area of the town, received excellent care at Hartlepool and District Hospice in his final weeks and his club colleagues now want to show their gratitude.

Sports secretary Keith Carter said “The snook-a-thon is dedicated to the memory of Peter whose last weeks were made more tolerable by the care he received at the hospice.

"We want to thank the hospice for the way it looked after him by raising as much money as possible."

Mr Skeet’s widow Pam is supporting the event and she too hopes that a large sum will be raised for the hospice which is based in Wells Avenue, Hartlepool.

She said: “I am so touched by this gesture from Peter’s club colleagues and I hope that people will support their efforts to raise money for the hospice.

"Everyone at the hospice was so kind and compassionate to us during Peter’s illness and I’ll never forget the quality of the care he received."

The group from the will stage the sponsored event from 7am-7pm on Sunday, April 7.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a player or who wants to come and watch the event can contact the club any evening between 6pm and 11pm on 01429-272112.