A CRICKET club hit by two tragedies within weeks of each other is fundraising to support its members and the families of those affected.

In March, long-serving Wath Cricket Club player and coach Matt Burrows died aged 35.

And with his family and friends at the club still reeling, there was another shock when promising teenager Haris Hussain - who had been on trial with Leicestershire and played for Yorkshire - was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Veteran player Rob Barlow said the club had been looking at ways they could help in the two admittedly different circumstances, and landed on carrying out fundraising for two charities.

Players and club members will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks - a 24.5-mile hike covering Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent - next month to raise funds for British Heart Foundation and blood cancer charity DKMS.

The money raised will also be used to install a defibrillator at the club on Moor Road.

“Matt was loved by everyone, a stand-up bloke, and we’re doing anything we can to remember him,” said Rob.

“And we also wanted to put something in place so that if anything was to happen in our club we have got that security.

“It was a shock one after the other, but Haris is on the road to recovery after a transplant in July.

“With a bit of luck he can resume a normal life and get back to playing cricket.

“We want to help as many people as possible.

“We’re quite lucky in that we get a lot of people wanting to muck in and do their bit.”

A family fun day at the club will take place the day after the Three Peaks challenge, which will give the club’s junior members an opportunity to join in the fundraising by walking around Manvers Lake.

Rob said: “I’d like to think Matt would be proud.

“Once we’ve made the donations to charity we hope to save a bit to give back to the junior section.

“That’s something he was passionate about.”

The club will be undertaking the Three Peaks challenge on Saturday, October 12, with the fun day taking place on Sunday 13.

To donate to the campaign, search for ‘Wath Cricket Club Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge’ on crowdfunder.co.uk.