ONE year on from the first Bucks' Big Bash, a group of friends managed to match the success of last year's event in more ways than one.

Last year's event was organised by friends of Luke Buckingham, a young man who had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The friends wanted to give Luke something to look forward to during his treatment but unfortunately during the planning of the event, Luke's cancer was diagnosed to be terminal.

The news saw the community go into overdrive, making donations, pledging help and giving prizes.

Luke sadly passed away in October last year, and the team behind event decided they wanted to celebrate Luke's life by making this year's event bigger and even better.

This year the three chosen charities were Bloodwise, Delete Blood Cancer and the British Heart Foundation.

Around 1,000 people turned out on the day to enjoy a wide range of fundraising activities including a cricket match, silent auction, and raffle.

All of the money has been totted up and the event raised a staggering £22,602.

Dave Spilsbury, Luke's friend and member of the organising committee, said: "We thought it was going to difficult to come close to achieving what we did last year, but yet again the town turned out in force to support three important causes.

"We announced the total raised on Facebook and the response was overwhelming."

Luke's wife, Holly, said: "This year's event had a completely different feel to last year's.

"It was much more a celebration of Luke's life and the distance we have all travelled in the last year.

"Luke would have been incredibly proud of those involved, and more than anything he would have loved to have been out on the field.

"It was a fantastic tribute and we are all astonished by the amount raised."