A YOUNG entrepreneur is raising cash for cystic fibrosis through a new business venture.

The self titled "free cash giveaway" business is offering 10 percent of their yearly profits to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Matthew Austin, 21, from Southend, runs a website where people can sign up for the chance to receive cash prizes from the funds raised through advertising.

Matthew’s friend Sophie Holmes, 24 suffers with the disease and has been featured in the Echo numerous times for her generous work with the charity.

Matthew said: “Sophie is a really good friend of ours, she’s been featured in the paper a lot because she suffers with cystic fibrosis and she’s always raising money for the charity.

“We decided to donate 10 per cent of our proceeds and any unclaimed prizes for the year to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.”

Sophie was the second person with cystic fibrosis ever to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, two years ago and in July this year, she completed the 100km Race to the Stones, which she completed in 23 hours.

Claire Phillips, community and development fundraising manager, said: “On behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and its community we want to thank Banana Crumble for pledging their support to help us beat this life-shortening condition. We are the only UK-wide charity dedicated to fighting for a life unlimited for everyone affected by cystic fibrosis and the work we do is only made possible by the generous work and donations from our supporters.”

The prize money is funded through the advertisements and coupons offered through the website.

Matthew added: “I just wanted to help others in some kind of way, the cash prizes aren’t life changing but they might buy someone’s shopping for the week or pay for a nice meal.”

Matthew went to Southend High School for Boys where he studied A-levels in geography, government and politics and business.

He said: “The idea came to me in February of this year whilst I was sitting in on a train home with my friend who worked for the Lottery.

“A friend of ours built the website and we’ve been travelling to universities across the country handing out flyers and other merchandise to all the students.

“We would love for the business to grow, the more members we have sign up, the more prizes we can offer.”

Another part of the website is the “Good News Stories” section in which Matthew encourages young people to send in positive stories. He felt that negatives stories often dominate the news and the positives don’t get any publicity.

Matthew said: “I just wanted to encourage people to be more positive, that’s why we had the idea of working with the charity. A friend of mine is a doctor and he wrote a piece for us, it can be a weekly submission or even daily.”