£1,000 Raised For Multiple Sclerosis » Communities » 24dash.com

Peterborough-based Smye Holland Associates has presented the Huntingdon, Peterborough and Cambridge Multiple Sclerosis Centre with a cheque for £1,000, which was raised by holding a football tournament with a difference - human table football

This alternative five-a-side version of the popular table-top game had people roped into a giant inflatable pitch.

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Centre has a large hyperbaric oxygen chamber seating up to eight people including wheelchairs. The chamber allows MS sufferers to breath in pure oxygen under pressure which has various benefits for the patients, including improving eye sight, reducing nerve pain, improving bladder control and helping with fatigue.

Zena Betts, centre manager, said: We receive no government funding and are therefore dependent on funds raised from members fees, donations and fundraising by volunteers. It costs around £100,000 per year to run the centre and we are extremely grateful to Smye Holland Associates for raising this money.

Emily Anniss, account executive at Smye Holland Associates, added: The Multiple Sclerosis Centre is a fantastic charity that provides excellent care for its patients and support for their families. We are pleased with the amount of money raised and the generosity of our clients.

More than a dozen teams from companies in Peterborough, Huntingdon and as far away as Buckingham took part in the contest. Gradually the weaker teams were eliminated to leave just two in the final The Hoods from Peter Brotherhood and The Salad Munchers from Huntingdon-based fruit and vegetable supplier The Greenery.

In a muddy and closely-fought match The Hoods took the trophy with a winning score of seven goals to the Salad Munchers three.

Money was raised from entry fees to the contest and from bets placed on the outcome of the contest.