A rugby international from Bradford has converted interest in his benefit season into cash for a fund set up in memory of a former team-mate who died of cancer at 29.

The family of Alex Boag say they are deeply touched that the former Saracens centre Steve Ravenscroft dedicated his benefit year to the man he used to play alongside for Bradford Grammar School and Yorkshire schools.

Several thousand pounds are now set to be donated to the Alex Boag Sarcoma Fund following the former England player's testimonial season. One of its highlights was a dinner and auction with 600 guests including Saracens stars Francois Pienaar, Kyran Bracken and Michael Lynagh.

Alex grew up in Bingley before going to Oxford University, where he gained a double first class honours degree. He died in November 1998 after a two-year battle against sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting the body's soft tissues. His family and friends set up a fund to help research into the disease.

Steve Ravenscroft, 29, was given a testimonial after playing for ten years with Saracens and decided to donate part of his profits to the fund. He also grew up in Bingley and is travelling in the Far East after marrying his fiancee, Sarah,

Alex's sister, Philippa Boag-Sharland, 28, said the total raised now stood at some £55,000.

She said: "Steve's kind gesture was absolutely fantastic and very much appreciated. Alex was very proud of what Steve achieved and would have been thrilled that he'd supported him in this way.

"We're determined to carry on with the appeal and are hoping to organise another big fundraising event early next year.

"It's a way of keeping his memory alive but we also want to raise money for research and set up a web-site.

"Alex found a wealth of knowledge about sarcoma on the Internet and the web-site would help other sufferers by making it easier for them to find information.''

Alex's mother Jane Boag, of Bingley, added: "It was a wonderful thing for Steve to do and we were just so touched by it.

"Sarcoma's a very aggressive form of cancer and we're hoping that the research will result in a better treatment and something to make it slightly less aggressive.''

Steve Ravenscroft, who has two England caps and has just joined London Welsh, said: "I'd kept in touch with Alex and his sister since school so I knew about the fund.

"I wanted to associate my benefit season with a charity and it was the first thing I thought of because of my personal contact.''