A POOL player aims to pocket a huge pot of cash for St Vincent’s Hospice by sinking 6,000 balls in just 24 hours.

Phil Steven shot to local fame last year when he potted 5,000 balls in 15 hours to raise money for the Howwood hospice.

His sights are now set on going a stage further by sinking an extra 1,000 balls with only an extra seven hours to do it in.

The Howwood cue man has already broken his £2,500 target, the same amount he raised last year, with more than £3,000 raised online so far.

And Phil, a mechanic by trade, told the Gazette he’ll play through the pain for this year’s challenge.

He said: “I’ve got to be honest, after last year I swore I would never do it again.

“Silly as it sounds, standing over a pool table for that length of time really does take its toll. I was walking around with a hunch for days. It actually still gives me a bit of bother now.

“I don’t have any personal connection to St Vincent’s Hospice, but I just think the work they do there is absolutely fantastic and they probably don’t get the attention or credit they deserve.

“So I just decided to do something to help.”

Phil will take on the challenge at Midton Bowling Club starting at midnight next Friday.

St Vincent’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for individuals and families affected by life-limiting illnesses across Renfrewshire and their team of staff provide care, support and guidance in their eight-bed inpatient unit, their day hospice and in people’s own homes.

Caring for families is also a key focus of the hospice, delivering a Children and Young Person’s Service, offering pre and post-bereavement care to children and young people who are facing challenges due to the loss of someone they love.

The hospice relies on donations from the community to keep going, and chief executive officer Kate Lennon said she was extremely grateful for Phil’s efforts.

She added: “This is an incredible gesture from Phil, and for someone who has never even been involved with the hospice to go to all this time and effort to help support our services, is genuinely humbling.

“On behalf of everyone at St Vincent’s Hospice, I want to wish Phil good luck. I’m sure he will beat the clock and that everyone involved will have a fantastic night.”

Phil added: “Last year’s event really got the local community talking, it had a real buzz about it, so this time I’m going bigger and better with an extra 1,000 balls and just 24 hours to do it.

“Luckily I get some time off afterwards, I think I’ll need it.”

To support Phil visit justgiving.com/fundraising/phil-steven.