BIG-HEARTED members of the Galligreaves Community and District Community Base in Roebuck Close, Blackburn raised more than £300 for a man left paralysed in a road accident.

Mark Howieson, 33, suffered brain damage in a freak accident while cycling home from his work at British Steel in September 1998.

He lost control of the bike and ended up in the path of a car. He is being cared for by the Sue Ryder Foundation.

The fund-raisers held a series of events for Mark, including sponsored swims and football matches.

Mark's mother Barbara, of Duchess Street, Darwen, was presented with a cheque for £336 at the Griffin Pub. She said: "I would like to say thank you on behalf of myself and Mark, it was very good of them. I know they had to put a lot of hard work into this."