THE SAYING goes that charity starts at home.

And that was certainly true on Sunday when two families came together on the sports pitch in memory of an inspirational Petersfield woman who defied the odds for months.

Lauren Austin was just 23 when she died last October from a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Anaplastic Ganglioglioma.

Doctors gave her two months to live shortly after an operation to remove a tumour left her paralysed from the neck down.

Yet she defied their predictions to live her life to the fullest, regaining use of her arms and marrying her Petersfield fiancee, Henry, during a brave year-long battle against the odds.

Lauren’s courageousness and competitive nature inspired her family to take part in a range of sporty challenges for charity, ranging from triathlons to a triple ascent of Snowdon.

But they reached new heights on Sunday as a ‘grudge match’ at Liss Cricket Club pushed the fundraising total for Bordon charity, Steven’s Barmy Army, and Football For Cancer (FFC) past the £8,000 mark.

Teams put together by Henry and Lauren’s mum, Maz Jauncey, battled it out on the football and cricket patch in a fundraising tribute.

Henry’s side won the footbal comfortably, although there was some debate about the size of the final scoreline, while the cricket match was a more genteel affair.

The results weren’t important but the spirit of Lauren was in the heart of everyone who took to the field in her memory.

“Everything we’ve done has started off as a joke but got a bit out of hand and this started off as a laugh, too,” said Mrs Jauncey, from Liss.

“Lauren was very active so to go from that to having to depend on everyone for the slightest thing, it would have killed me.

“But she lived the way she wanted to and lived life to the fullest. For her birthday she went to the beach with her little sister, she went out with her friends and just enjoyed life.”

Her 39-year-old stepfather, Paul Jauncey, called Lauren the “bravest person” he has ever met.

He said: “The doctors gave her two months but she almost made a whole year.

“She managed to marry her fiancee, spend time with loved ones and regained movement in her arms. She was truly the bravest person I have ever met and a true inspiration.”

The Lauren Austin Grudge Match between the Austin Bashing Team and Henge United were friendly affairs but charity was the big winner, with family event raising more than the £400 for the good causes.

It was organised in less than seven weeks and took place at Liss Cricket Club as Henry plays for the village side.

“This is to raise money in memory of Lauren as she was competitive and I think she got that from Maz,” said Mr Austin before umpiring the cricket match.

“We’re quite proud of what’s happening here today.”

The afternoon event also had plenty for children with a bouncy castle, ice cream van, face painting, candy floss and burgers.