The Bundaberg public has chipped in to raise more than $2000 for the family of a man suffering with cancer at a charity Futsal tournament at Hinkler Park on the weekend.

Players from around Queensland travelled to Bundaberg North on Saturday to play in the inaugural Wide Bay Vikings Charity Shield tournament, which raised money to help fund the man’s ongoing cancer treatment.

“The response was just great from the players and the community, who came out to watch,” competition co-ordinator Paul Weber said yesterday.

“(The man) will be presented with a cheque that will go to his family as they fund his treatment.”

Weber said the man did not wish to make his name public, but those in attendance were aware of his plight.

Aside from raising money for charity, there was also a shield up for grabs.

While the mood of the tournament was more of a social nature, Weber said there was healthy competition between teams for the first Charity Shield tournament.

On Saturday night it was the Bundaberg Barbarians that had its name etched on the silverware.

The Bundaberg team beat strong competition from a Barbarians team, which comprised of players from Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay and Gympie, to win the shield.

“There were a lot of junior games and senior games too,” Weber said.

“We started at 10 (am) and didn’t finish ‘til 9 (pm) so everyone was having a lot of fun.”

Weber said there were already discussions about staging a similar event next year.

However that event may not take place in Bundaberg.

“We might move it around a bit to Hervey Bay or Gympie,” Weber said.

“It’s a great initiative and it was well-received by everyone involved so it would be a shame not to do it again.”

But Weber did confirm the event would take place at the same time of the year, given the feeling at the weekend, if it was decided that it would be held again.

“Everyone’s full of Christmas cheer and they are a in the mood for giving,” Weber said.

Staging the charity event in early September meant one family could receive a special, early Christmas gift too.

Weber said the event would raise money for an individual family that needed funds each year.

“We think it’s better off giving the money to someone locally than through one of the bigger organisations,” Weber said.