YOUNGSTERS joined in sponsored events to raise money for a Darlington Memorial Hospital ward.

Lisa Degnan first got the idea of raising money for the hospital's haematology unit on ward 42 when her mother, Pauline Pybus, was treated there for leukaemia two years ago.

One of the sponsored events involved Mrs Degnan's 12-year-old son Paul sitting in custard for more than an hour.

Six-year-old Karla Bradley, whose grandmother Jean Bowes received treatment for lung cancer on the ward, completed a sponsored spell.

Paul Bartley, six, whose mother Angela had breast cancer treatment on the same ward, also joined in by doing a sponsored walk.

The youngsters managed to raise £337.50 for the unit from their efforts.

Mrs Degnan and her friends, with Karla's mother, Tracey Bradley, also organised a charity evening at the hospital social club. The event took the form of a fancy dress disco with a tombola, raffle and other games.

The money from the evening, plus sponsorship, made a total of £2,125, which was donated to the ward yesterday.