MORE than £40,000 was raised for a Hampshire charity when it staged its first triathlon event on Sunday.

The event was held in aid of the XLP Research Trust, a charity set up by the Hartley family from Romsey after their four sons were all diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening genetic condition.

It was also the last big event before Luke, the youngest of the Hartley brothers, travels to London for a bone marrow transplant to cure him of the condition.

The triathlon started and finished at Romsey Rapids and saw 27 teams take on the 20-mile event, including a swim at the Rapids and a run and a cycle ride around Romsey.

Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy set the teams off and a minute's round of applause took place in memory of World Cup winner Alan Ball, who died last Tuesday.

Fundraisers Dave Turpin and Ben Holdoway, of Abbey Park Cars, organised the triathlon in association with the charity.

David Hartley, the charity's founder and the Hartley brothers' father, said: "It went really well. Everybody enjoyed it and went home happy and we had some great performances.

"We hope to have raised more than £40,000 for the charity, which is fantastic."

He said another triathlon will be planned for next year and it is hoped it will become an annual fixture.

The Hartley boys were diagnosed with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, or Duncan's Disease, in November 2003.

The only cure for the condition is a bone marrow transplant. Joshua, 15, Nathan, 13, and 11-year-old Daniel have had successful transplants.

Luke, seven, is due to go London's Great Ormond Street Hospital this month to have his transplant - with the donor being his brother Nathan.