DESPITE poor weather conditions, Santas and Elves helped raise £3,000 and remembered the life of a teenager who died earlier this year.

On Sunday evening, Oakley Football Club (OFC) held a charity match in the memory of 18-year-old Ben Wilson from Overton, who died in a car crash in September.

The community rallied around to support the event, with the club, along with sponsors Armstrong Fluid Technology managed to collect £2,714 for St John Ambulance, which OFC boosted up to £3,000.

Even with the rain pouring down at the Camrose football ground, there was a real fun atmosphere as coaches, mums and dads all took to the pitch in their festive fancy dress.

Ben’s family had decided to support St John Ambulance after a trained member of the public was first at the scene and treated the former Basingstoke College of Technology student.

The money will be put towards providing a new defibrillator for the community.

After the match, Ben’s mother Maria Wilson told The Gazette: “It has been a bit overwhelming to see the community come together in the way they have to remember Ben and show their support.

“Seeing how generous people have been is just incredible and if this money can go towards just saving one person’s life then it has made a difference.”

Ben’s father, David, added: “The fact that everyone in the community has supported us, not just at the time of Ben’s death, but afterwards, has meant a lot to us.

“And that people keep doing events like this to remember him, we are just really thankful.”

Before the game a minute’s silence was observed to remember Ben. The match itself was a soggy affair and was played out to a 2-2 draw, which the elves then won 3-1 on penalties. After the game a charity raffle was held, with prizes donated by local businesses.

One of the organisers of the match, Scott Waissen, said: “It was good fun, the conditions didn’t make it easy. It was a bit like playing in treacle. Thank you to all of the businesses for their prizes, Basingstoke Town Football Club for allowing us to use the ground and a big thank you to everyone that turned up to watch.”