TEENAGERS hit the streets of Dorchester to raise funds in memory of their friend.

Jesse Kearsey, 19, spent six days pounding the roads of the county town offering to wash cars to raise money for Epilepsy Research UK.

On the first day he was joined by friend Scott Collins and another friend, Martin Wright, accompanied him on the other days.

The youngsters were collecting for the charity in memory of close friend Tom Roy, who died following a heart seizure in June last year at the age of just 22.

It was the second time Jesse and Scott, 18, had organised a fundraiser in Tom’s memory after they took on a 75-mile bike ride last year to raise £300 for the same charity.

Although Scott was unavailable after the first day, 19-year-old Martin proved an able deputy alongside Jesse as they washed cars in Manor Road, Manor Park, Queens Avenue, Alfred Place, Poundbury and Bradford Peverell and they raised a further £216 towards their cause.

Jesse, from Dorchester, said: “We spent six days on this charity event, doing about four hours on each of those days.

“Martin and myself obviously didn’t do so well this year, raising £216, but the money will hopefully still go a long way.

“I will be doing further charity events in aid of Epilepsy Research UK and the plan is to do one event every year.”

Traipsing round the streets washing cars may not be every teenager’s favourite way of spending their summer but Jesse explained he and his friends were keen to do something in Tom’s memory.

He said: “The reason why we were so committed to helping out this charity is because last June, one of our closest friends, Tom Roy, passed away at the age of 22 after having an epileptic fit.

“This made us aware of how serious epilepsy can be and since then we have been very ambitious about raising money to help put a stop to epilepsy.

After his death former Royal Manor and Weymouth College student Tom was described by his family as a ‘doting daddy’ to his young daughter Hope.