A Blackburn teenager is organising a football match to help raise money for a children’s hospice for the third year in a row.

Ellis Wignall, 17, a student at Blackburn College, raised more than £3,000 for Derian House last year when two teams made up of his family and friends took to the pitch at Mill Hill St Peter’s Sports and Social Club in August.

Ellis has been fundraising for Derian House, based in Chorley, since his days at Darwen Vale High School, where he took part in a sponsored army-style training event which inspired him to organise his own fundraising activities.

This year, Ellis is aiming to go another step further and raise £4,000, having raised just over £3,000 and £2,000 respectively in previous years.

The next event will also be bigger and better, with stalls and activities on the day as well as an ice cream van and a BBQ.

Last year's teams were made up of Ellis' friends and familyLast year's teams were made up of Ellis' friends and family (Image: Derian House)

Ellis said: “This is the first year that we’ve had stalls and we have an ice cream van coming down as well.

"We’ve got plenty of other activities on the day such as ‘beat the goalkeeper.’

“We’ve also kindly been donated two match balls and electrolyte drinks by The Team Stop in Chorley.

“We raised £3,300 last year and we are hoping to push for the £4,000 mark this year.

“I’ve also helped to organise a tour of the hospice which will hopefully help people to understand properly what they are raising money for.

“Everyone involved in the match is always striving to improve it wherever they can to make things better and hopefully raise beyond our target each year.”

Speaking after last year’s match, Ellis said he has always wanted to go into nursing and had his eyes opened when he went on a tour of Derian House.

He said: “It’s local to the community and well-known to a lot of people. Ever since the match last year, my love of the hospice has only grown even more.”

Ellis WignallEllis Wignall (Image: Derian House)

Kerry Salmon, community fundraiser at Derian House, said: “Ellis is an incredible young person with such a big heart, and an inspiration to other young fundraisers out there. It takes a lot of effort to organise events like this – he should be so proud of himself.

“We also think Ellis’ dream of becoming a nurse here at Derian is fantastic, and we wish him all the luck in the world.

“Although care is free for families, it will cost us £6 million to run services at Derian House in 2024. So we rely heavily on the generosity of our incredible supporters – just like Ellis – to raise 70p in every £1.”

This year’s game will take place on Sunday, August 11, at Lower Darwen Recreation Ground. Kick-off is at 3pm.