A Darwen singer and guitarist who underwent cancer treatment hosted a charity concert as a way of thanking a local charity.

Danny Wilson raised £1,200 by organising a band night in aid of the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Instead of taking a performance fee from ticket sales, The Monkeymen, Overdrive, The Rebels and La Bamba all donated their fees to the charity.

Danny worked as a magistrates’ court administrator and then volunteered as an ambulance driver for North West Ambulance Service.

He said: “We all gig throughout the North West and support Gig for Life, which raises money for cancer charities.

“The Monkeymen do about four or five charity concerts a year. It's something we became involved in after I lost my wife Elaine to cancer in January 2017.

"Elaine had been treated for melanoma in 2013 but in November 2016, a blood test revealed the cancer had come back with a vengeance. 

"It was already at Stage 4 and didn’t respond to immunotherapy treatment. The Gig for Life shows we do are a tribute to her.”

Danny (right) with his bandmates Sam, Andy and Les.Danny said: “In June this year, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I underwent 20 radiotherapy sessions at Rosemere Cancer Centre over four weeks.

"They finished in August and I now have to have hormone injections every couple of months for the next two years but then should be fine.

“This latest gig was to say thank you to Rosemere for my care and treatment.

"I’m very grateful to my bandmates and the other three bands for agreeing to perform and to everyone who came to see us.”

The gig was held at Bamber Bridge Catholic Club but The Monkeymen have performed at Liverpool’s The Cavern Club among other regional venues.

The band’s next local gig will be at the 2 Gates Bowling Club, Darwen, on New Year’s Eve.

Community and events fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Yvonne Stott, said: “Thank you to Danny and all the musicians who joined him on stage for what was a great evening of entertainment, much enjoyed by the almost 200-strong audience.”