£4,000 raised in memory of cancer victim

Craig Quirk, who works at Akzo Nobel in Darwen, was joined by friends to complete the three peaks of Snowden, Scafell and Ben Nevis in 22 hours 26 minutes.

They took on the challenge as a way to remember Craig's sister, Dawn, who died last February at the age of 24.

Dawn, of Ellison Fold, Darwen, died at Manchester's Christie Hospital after a nine-month battle with cancer.

She first found a lump in her leg in October 2003, which was said to be malignant. She had it removed in November but then suffered a blood clot in the New Year.

She was told a short time later that the cancer had spread throughout her body.

Two of Craig's friends, Dawn's brother-in-law Lee Banks and Lee's brother Gary Banks, had their own special reason for doing the three peaks.

Lee, 35, of Bosley Close, Darwen, and Gary, 37, of Maria Street, Darwen, completed the challenge on the 25th anniversary of the death of their father, Jimmy.

The £4,000 raised will go to the to the young oncology unit at the Christie, via the Dawn Quirk Memorial Trust which was set up to help other cancer sufferers.

Craig, who lives in West View Place, Blackburn, said: "It was very tiring both mentally and physically but everyone got into the spirit and it was such a great experience. It snowed while we were doing Ben Nevis and it was pitch black all the way up and down.

"It was well worth it and Dawn would have been really pleased and proud of us. All our family went along. It was a superb team effort.

"I'd like to thank Lucite International, in Darwen, who matched the money raised by its employees, the people at Akzo Nobel who raised £1,000, and everyone else who helped us out."

Craig was also joined by three work colleagues from Akzo Nobel, his girlfriend Fritha Morgan and one of Gary's workmates from ICI in Darwen.

They also had a support team comprising Craig's parents, Doreen and Brian, his sister Tracey and his girlfriend's father, John.