A team of cricketers swapped bats and balls for treble 20s and bullseyes as they staged a darts marathon for charity.

The players from Addington Village Cricket Club Adders darts team in West Malling, Kent took to the oche for almost 10 hours and scored 250,000 points. They have so far raised £1,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support, a particularly personal cause as family members of a number of the team have been affected by the disease.

One of Britain’s largest charities, Macmillan Cancer Support provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer.

The Adders were led by skipper Alex Pollington, Accounts and Business Advisory Services senior in the Maidstone office of UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets. He said:

“We originally set out to raise £500 and score 100,000 points, but we thankfully managed to massively exceed that for this worthwhile and vital cause. Hitting 250,000 points – equivalent to around 500 legs of 501 – was a mammoth effort but so worth it."

“Many thanks to everyone who took part, those who helped organise the event, Addington Village CC for hosting us and, especially, our very generous supporters who gave willingly for the cause."

“It was a great team achievement, and we are very proud to have contributed to such a fantastic cause through the Macmillan Cancer Support Darts Marathon, which has so far raised more than £1.15 million nationally.”

The Adders team included Alex, Evan Hutchins, Rhys Derbyshire, James Cornford, Ryan Lucas, James Conway, Reese Thwaites, Liam Burnop, Andrew Montgomerie and Liam Budd.

Liam Budd hit five maximum 180s, with Alex, Reese and Liam Burnop achieving one each in the event which ran from 10.15am until finishing on a double at 8pm. Reese also hit the lowest score of zero from three darts – the first two darts fell out of the board and he threw the third on the floor in frustration.

They were supported by upcoming 15-year-old Kent junior darts star Teddy Acott who staged a ‘beat the pro’ challenge and was defeated only by Reese Thwaites in an exhibition hour full of 180s and a maximum 170 finish.

There are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK with the number expected to reach four million by 2030.

In 2024 Macmillan Cancer Support helped 2.4 million people affected by cancer and supporters raised £239.7 million – 98% of the charity’s total income. Alex added:

“On a personal note, several members of my family have had cancer recently including my nan who sadly passed away in 2022 after a short battle with stage four bowel cancer, and other family members also had lung cancer, oesophageal cancer, liver cancer and one had Ewing Sarcoma at a young age which is a very rare form of bone cancer in the face.”

James Cornford said:

“‘My nan had lung cancer and watching someone you love go through cancer is incredibly hard. It’s not just the illness itself but the uncertainty, the fear, and the emotional toll it takes on the whole family".

“During that time, Macmillan was there – offering support, guidance, and reassurance when it was needed most. Macmillan doesn’t just help people medically; they help people cope. So, this fundraiser is my way of giving back and honouring my nan. If my efforts can help even one person feel less alone during their cancer journey, then it’s worth it.”

Evan Hutchins added:

“My nan has battled two rounds of cancer (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and is unfortunately now receiving palliative care. The Macmillan nurses have always been a source of positivity and provided good advice for her and have been cheerful and friendly even in the face of grief they see every day. They are a fantastic organisation, and I am really proud to have helped in a small way.”

Reese Thwaites said:

“My nan had lung cancer that spread to the spine. This was an important event for me as I wanted to raise money to help find a cure that took someone so special from us.”

In his day job at Azets, the UK’s specialist business advisor to SMEs, Alex, who has been with the firm for more than six years, works with clients on strategic planning, compliance assistance and business advisory services.

Azets is an international advisory, outsourcing and compliance Group, employing 8,200 people and supporting 100,000-plus clients through its network of 189 offices across Europe.

In the UK, Azets is a top ten accountancy and business advisory Group and employs 3,800 people, with more than 70 offices nationwide. Donations are still open click here.

Photo: On The Oche - The Addington Village CC Adders darts team, from left, Evan Hutchins, Rhys Derbyshire, Alex Pollington, James Cornford, Ryan Lucas, James Conway, Reese Thwaites, Liam Burnop and Andrew Montgomerie with Kent junior darts star Teddy Acott (front, centre). Liam Budd is not pictured