FAMILY and friends released 200 balloons on Sunday as an event to mark what would have been a cancer victims 19th birthday.

Liam Harker died in May 2007 aged just 17 from Burkitt's Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer.

His family have run a series of fundraising activities which have helped to donate £20,000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Liam's 15-year-old sister, Paige, organised yesterdays event to release 200 balloons - three days before November 4, Liam's birthday.

The afternoon event, which was attended by friends, family and a representative from Teenage Cancer Trust, missed the morning's downpours. Instead, the balloons soon vanished from view in a stiff wind.

Paige, a Longfield School pupil, said: "First Stop Party Shop gave us the idea and supplied the balloons.

"We just it was something different compared to everything else we have done."

Other fundraising events have included rock concerts, a mountain climb by Liam's father Reuben, a car boot sale, and an extreme adventure day.

Liams mother Tracie said: "Liam's birthday is obviously a hard day because he is not here to celebrate with. Hopefully it won't be as difficult as last year."

Heather Bowen, from the Teenage Cancer Trust, said the money would help go towards replacing the ten-year-old unit.