A round-the-clock table tennis event is being held to collect £5,000 for cancer care services.

The initiative will generate money for The Hummingbird Centre, which provides assistance to individuals battling cancer and their relatives throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire.

The 24-hour challenge has been put together by Ian Critchley, Alan Smith, and Paul Harris. The marathon gets underway on Friday, April 10 at 8pm and concludes at the same time the following evening at the centre’s base in Launton, close to Bicester.

Contests will include both singles and doubles fixtures, with participants swapping in and out to enable rest periods.

Paul Harris, who serves as a trustee at The Hummingbird Centre, explained that several of the organisation’s volunteers and trustees take part in competitive table tennis within the Banbury & District Table Tennis League. They therefore chose to push themselves while also boosting awareness of the sport in the local area. A committed core of players will compete throughout the entire duration, though additional volunteers are welcome to participate. Anyone able to give an hour or more is encouraged to make contact.

Participants are being asked to gather pledges and boost the money raised for the centre.

Ian Critchley, another trustee at the organisation, expressed hope that many people would attend to either play for a period or simply offer encouragement whether during daylight or after dark.

Those wishing to volunteer can send an email to events@thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk.

Contributions can be sent through their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/hbc-ttchallenge.

The Hummingbird Centre operates solely through charitable donations and the work of volunteers.