Ingrid Rosie, who lost her battle against cancer last November, aged just 25. Fundraising events in her memory will be staged this weekend.

A Stromness man is paying tribute to his late partner by raising cash for research into the cancer that claimed her life.

Ingrid Rosie was only 25 when she died on November 29 last year after a 12-month battle against breast cancer. She eventually lost her fight after developing a secondary cancer in her lung.

Her fiancé, Marc Boal of John Street, has spent the past few months organising a fundraising weekend and publishing a book of poems written by Ingrid.

Marc, who works for Orkney Ferries, has been channelling the bulk of his energy into raising as much money as possible for the Macmillan ward in Orkney and the Lavender Trust.

“The Lavender Trust is specifically for women under 30 years old with breast cancer,” he said. “That was something Ingrid was supporting herself.”

The trust was set up to raise money to fund Breast Cancer Care’s information and support services for younger women.

The weekend kicks off with a Rangers v Celtic supporters’ clubs charity football match on the Market Green in Stromness at 1pm on Saturday. The teams will be competing for the Ingrid Rosie Memorial Cup.

At half-time a women’s fancy dress football match, the Ferry Inn v the Stromness Hotel, is due to get under way, also at the Market Green.

Stromnessian Calum Macaulay will be saying “goodbye” to his pony tail in the centre circle at half-time. He has already raised more than £500 towards the cause.

As in television’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here style, there will be a bush tucker trial for some of Stromness’s own “celebrities” in the Ferry Inn on Saturday evening. Marc is keeping the tempting treats in store for the candidates under wraps.

The theme is “Pink Night”, which relates breast cancer awareness and the pink ribbons worn, and Marc is hoping everyone will dress accordingly. There will be live music in the Ferry Inn throughout Saturday night.

There will be food and raffles available throughout the day, with the prize draw on Sunday at 9pm, again in the Ferry Inn. Also in the bar, a Killer Pool competition and Play Your Cards Right is due to go ahead on Sunday afternoon, with live music at night.

The 32-page book of poems, written by Ingrid, is due to go on sale at the weekend.

“There will be a recipe book on sale as well, with recipes from people in Stromness, the nurses in Macmillan, friends and family,” Marc added.

Fellow Stromnessian Allan Stanger, who lost his baby daughter while she was waiting for a heart transplant, will also be taking the opportunity to hand out donor cards.

Marc appealed for people to come along to support the event, which he hopes will raise several thousand pounds. Breast cancer is not common in younger women, according to the Lavender Trust website.

The latest figures, published by Cancer Research UK in March this year, show that just over 8,000 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK. Just over 2,300 of these are under the age of 40.

If you have breast cancer and would like information or support you can visit the Lavender Trust website: www.lavendertrust.org.uk.