IT promises to be Hampshire's largest-ever charity fundraiser. The Wessex Heartbeat Saints Golf Classic tournament and gala ball may be six months away but 80 people have already signed up to take part.

Teams of four will be able to compete at the Meon Valley Golf Club in Shedfield, followed by a

glittering ball at the St Mary's Stadium in the

company of former Saints star Matthew Le Tissier and many of the club's current Premiership players.

Le Tissier, a patron of Wessex Heartbeat, picked up a putter to launch the fundraiser at St Mary's Stadium.

Supported by Peter Cooper Volkswagen and the Daily Echo, the event is being held for the second successive year.

This year's event scooped £85,000 for the Wessex Cardiac Unit at Southampton General Hospital, which is supported by Wessex Heartbeat.

The charity's chief executive, Alan Blair, said: "It costs £2,500 to enter a team but you also get a table for ten at the ball for that and there is a tremendous amount we are going to give to make it a great event.

"Thanks to Peter Cooper, everyone at the ball will have the chance to enter the raffle to win a brand new VW Golf, as they did this year.

"We are encouraging companies to get involved because it is a fabulous event and the money raised will do a huge amount of good.

"We are so lucky to have the support of the Saints."

If you would like to enter a team of four for the golf classic and ball on May 13 and 14 next year contact the Heartbeat office on 023 8079 6679.