A CANCER charity has praised the fundraising efforts of a man personally affected by the disease.

Gez Walker raised £1,649 for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of his partner, Lynn Morgan, who died in December last year, aged 50, following a battle with the disease.

Ms Morgan was The Northern Echo’s classified sales manager and worked for the paper for more than 30 years.

The charity put Mr Walker, from Darlington, in touch with David Coulthard, in York, who ran the England Kilomathon on his behalf.

Mr Walker said: “I’d like to thank everyone who sponsored the event. Family, friends, work colleagues and local businesses – everybody dug deep. Whether it was 50p or £50, it all added up.”

Michelle Muir, the charity’s North-East fundraising manager, said: “The sum of money Gez has raised can help with so many things. When people learn that they, or someone close to them, have cancer, the first thing they need is essential information about where they can get practical and emotional support.”

A former colleague of Ms Morgan’s said: “Lynn was very driven in every aspect her life. If she wanted to do something, she did it. She was a force to be reckoned with and very much missed.”

Ms Morgan leaves son James and grandson Jamie.

Anyone wishing to help raise funds for the charity can call 0191-214-5444.

Macmillan’s helpline is 0808-808-0000.