THE family and friends of an Inverness man who died suddenly have pledged money they have raised in his memory to the Highland News-backed Rotary Club giveaway.

Shaun Scullion (20) died in 2006 from an aneurysm.

Since his death, his friends Steven Corcoran and Jamie Kilpatrick have held an annual football tournament in his honour.

And now the pals, along with Shaun's mum Morag, want to donate 900 to the Loch Ness Rotary Club which, through the Highland News, is giving away hundreds of pounds to local causes.

Morag (52), who lives in Suilven Way, Kinmylies, with her husband Mervyn (56), told the Highland News: "Every year since Shaun died, Steven and Jamie have held the football match in his memory.

"They organise a raffle and the players pay a small fee to enter and that money is given to charity.

"We have given it to various causes but we wanted to focus on more local, smaller charities.

"We trawled the internet looking for something worthwhile, but never found anything.

"Then I read about the Highland News and the Loch Ness Rotary Club project, and it seemed perfect."

Each month, lucky groups, individuals or charities in the Inverness area are in with a chance of receiving a cash donation of 200 thanks to the Rotary club.

Now, with the added money raised in memory of Shaun, from next month the lucky recipients will get 300.

"All we want is for the money to go locally," explained Morag. "There are groups and people out there for whom this will make a difference."

She added: "It's quite funny that the boys do a football tournament as Shaun was not very good at the sport, he was into ice hockey. The turnout each year for the match is great and it's nice seeing his old friends."

She added: "Shaun's death was so sudden, I came home to find him on the floor. It was terrible. He had only been back in Inverness a week after living in Portsmouth with my brother."

The day before he died, Shaun, a former swimming instructor, had started a new job in the advertising department of the Highland News but asked to go home shortly after arriving for work on his second day.

He was found lying on the living room floor by his mother that lunchtime.

Steven Corcoran (27), who lives in Smithton and works for Inverness Precast, said: "I grew up with Shaun and we wanted to hold an annual event in his memory and try and make something good out of what happened.

"This giveaway is ideal and we know the money will go to deserving charities."

Jamie Kilpatrick added: "Donating the money to the Rotary Club means lots of local charities will benefit."

Ken Mackie, Loch Ness Rotary Club president, said: "Over the first few months of this initiative we have seen the difference our donations can make.

"When we received the approach from Mrs Scullion, we agreed the 900 donation would be used to increase the monthly pay-out made through the scheme for the remainder of the year."

He added: "We know this is making a huge difference to those who have already received money, so we are sure the increased amount of 300 a month will make even more of an impact and will really help local groups who otherwise may be struggling.

"We are grateful to Mrs Scullion and Shaun's friends for recognising the great work Rotary does in the community and for selecting us to receive the donation in Shaun's memory."

Watch out in next week's Highland News for April's Rotary Giveaway winner.