AN ISLAND rugby club is preparing for a major annual fundraising event in aid of a children’s charity.

Canvey Rugby Club is holding its Festival by the Creek event to raise much needed funds for the Indee Rose Trust.

The charity supports children who are suffering with brain or spinal tumours and was set up in memory of island youngster Indee Rose.

The rugby club has been holding a beer race for the last three years and has raised about £6,000 for the charity.

This year the event is set to be even bigger than ever.

It will be held on Saturday, June 2 from 11am until 10pm at the club in Tewkes Creek, Dovervelt Road, Canvey.

Tommi Gillingwater, one of the event organisers, said: “We will be having plenty of other entertainment and fun on the day including bands.

“I have also arranged the event for the summer, when it was previously held around March. This has been done to make sure that we can get more groups such as football teams involved.

“We will also be making sure that we have more fun and entertainment for the youngsters at the event.”

Other planned entertainment includes family fun races, live music from performers, Bif Bam Pow, Double Headed Jester and Soul Fire, inflatables from Huff and Puff, food, and drink.

The Indee Rose Trust provides treasure boxes of toys and gifts for children in hospital whilst receiving treatment for a brain or spinal tumour.

The charity was established by the parents of Canvey youngster Indee Rose Dopson, who died from a brain tumour in June 2009, aged three.

It also provides one-off grants and holiday accommodation for family breaks when children have completed their treatment. It aims to bring joy and happiness to the child, and create lasting memories for everyone.

Russell Dopson, 46, who is Indee Rose’s dad and represents the charity, said the support from Mr Gillingwater and the club has been overwhelming.

He said: “The money that Tommi and the club have raised goes such a long way to support the children we help. Without all the support that we get the trust wouldn’t still be going.”