A CRICKET tournament will help launch a new foundation in memory of a 21-year-old who died following a battle with leukaemia.

The Rob George Foundation will help young people like the former Colchester Royal Grammar School pupil who find themselves facing life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

In recognition of Rob’s talent at cricket, golf and a variety of other sports, the charity will also offer awards to talented sportsmen and artists who are being held by a lack of finances.

To help launch the foundation, The Rob George Foundation six-a-side festival will be held at Colchester & East Essex cricket club’s Castle Park ground on Easter Saturday.

Six teams made up of Rob’s Colchester teammates, his university friends, his former touring team and other friends and family will play a round-robin tournament on the main pitch.

The day, which runs from 9.30am to 7pm, will also include a more social competition, bar, BBQ, bowling competitions, music and visits from Essex cricketers Reece Topley and Graham Napier.

A stall will introduce the charity and include merchandise, a raffle and charity buckets.

Andrew Kennedy, cricket club chairman and trustee of the Rob George Foundation, encouraged anyone in the area to pop in and find out more about the fundraising.

Rob was first diagnosed with leukaemia in September 2011. He was successfully treated, but it returned two years later.

About 400 people attended an event in Castle Park to find a match for a rare protein in his blood, but one could not be found in time and he died last December.