WHEN firefighter David Thomas died last year there were unprecedented scenes as his funeral cortege was met with a guard of honour outside the fire station at Parr Stocks.

Back then his widow Suzanne vowed to raise funds in his name for Bowel and Cancer Research and she has gone on to amass £7,000.

A firefighter for more than 30 years, David was just 50 when he died after battling bowel cancer for eight months. Friends and family packed Newton-le-Willows Cricket Club for a recent charity event.

Suzanne, 50, from Newton-le-Willows, said: “Up to now we’ve raised just short of £7,000 which is more than I could have ever imagined when I started to plan the fundraiser but it just goes to show how much love and respect David had. Although I can’t thank everyone personally I want these wonderful people to understand what they’ve helped achieve as I didn’t do it on my own.

“It was a rotten night weather-wise yet everyone who said they would come, did and it didn’t put them off supporting a worthwhile cause.

“We stopped counting at around 176 people.”

Suzanne, who was married to David for 22 years, managed to gather prizes from Saints and Widnes rugby league clubs, Everton and Liverpool football clubs and from the fire service which donated an ‘Experience Day’ at their training centre.

She added: “People’s support and generosity just knew no bounds, again I feel it’s just down to David. We all miss him very much.”