Karenza Mathews has mobilised a roll call of fellow England internationals and a small army of friends and neighbours to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Twice a national Women’s Singles champion, Karenza represented England more than 200 times all over the world and is a Table Tennis England Vice-President.

As well as all her battles on the table, she has also won a major fight off it having recovered from endometrial cancer.

Now she and her husband Ken, who was Manager of the England team and is also a Table Tennis England Vice-President, have organised a 24-hour table tennis marathon to raise funds to help Cancer Research UK.

Villagers and local league players from Oborne in Dorset, where the couple live, will take part, as will Dorset county player Barry Hill. And several of Karenza’s former international colleagues have now volunteered to also make an appearance.

Sue Henderson, Di Pearce, Linda and Nicky Jarvis and Jill and Don Parker will all take their turns on the table for the event, which begins at 11am on Saturday 5 April and ends at 11am the following day, at the Mathews’ hotel, The Grange at Oborne.

Karenza said: “I have been fortunate enough to have recovered from endometrial cancer. But we have family and friends who have suffered from other forms of the disease.

“Particularly tragic was a form of cancer that struck down Thomas, the son of our friends; he died at the age of nine years. So many of us know of similar stories.

“We want to do everything we can to help in the fight against this disease. Our village has come together to try to raise as much money as possible to help Cancer Research UK.”

Play will be in one-hour sessions with three or four players taking part in each hour, on a rota basis.

Anyone who would like to join the event, please email Ken and Karenza.