Zorbing was one of the activities available at the event. (Picture by Alex Digard, 0841514)

CANCER charities are set to benefit by up to £20,000 following a fund-raising event at Pembroke on Saturday.

The Oi Beach Party was raising money for Southampton General Hospital’s Piam Brown ward, where Guernsey children are treated, Clic Sargent, a local charity that helps families of child cancer patients, and for a holiday for Max Adams, 5, who is fighting a very rare form of the disease.

The day included a barbecue, live bands, children’s entertainment, games and live auctions. The event to mark Offshore International’s fifth anniversary became a fund-raiser when a staff member met Max Adams and his father, Jason, at Southampton General.

Oi Group managing director Peter Grange said he was confident the £20,000 figure would be achieved.

‘We already have more than £10,000 donated,’ he said. ‘One man contacted us two days ago and said we could auction a three-hour flight in his private jet and, if it didn’t raise £3,000, he would give us the money himself.’

Some families at the beach had first-hand experience of the care given to children on Piam Brown.

Shaun Broughton and Hannah Godwin’s son, Henry, 2, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in January. Initially they spent three weeks on the ward and have made many trips there since.

‘It’s like a family,’ said Mr Broughton, 42, a bank manager for Barclays. ‘You see the same people all the time and there is continuity of care.’