THE foster parents of a man who died from a rare form of leukaemia have launched a £50,000 appeal in his memory.

Father-of-two Graham Gardner was just 29 when he died of disseminated lymphoma, a condition which causes tumours, on April 28 last year.

Graham, of Gleneagles Drive, Brockhall Village, was an otherwise fit and healthy lorry driver when he suddenly succumbed to the illness, which was only diagnosed after his death.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where doctors struggled to diagnose the condition, before he died.

Now his parents, Janice and Colin Mustoe, who fostered Graham from when he was three, have launched an appeal to pay for a new heart scanner for Blackburn's new hospital as a way of saying thanks to the intensive care unit where he spent his last days.

The couple, who live in Ribchester and own office furniture business Senator International, based in Altham and Huncoat, have now registered the Graham Gardner Intensive Care Fund to purchase an Echo machine.

Short for Echogardiography machine, the device can monitor the heart beat in real time using ultrasonic waves, which gives a similar image to an ultrasound scan of an unborn baby.

It will allow doctors to look at a patient's heart and detect any abnormalities with the valves, heart chambers or blood vessels.

The machine will be presented to the intensive care unit at the new Royal Blackburn Infirmary, which is to expected to be opened on the Queen's Park Hospital site in July. The unit is moving from Blackburn Royal Infirmary, which is due to close after 141 years serving the people of East Lancashire.

Whalley mother Joan Egan, who is organising fundraising events for the charity, said: "Last year Graham Gardner spent the last few weeks of his life in Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

"Although the doctors and nursing staff did everything possible for him he lost his fight for life.

"Janice and Colin spent many weeks visiting Graham in the intensive care unit, met most of the doctors and staff, and on his death, promised to raise funds for a piece of equipment in his memory."

After speaking to Dr Rudi Brits, who works in the intensive care unit, they decided to purchase an Echo machine. It will take a scan of the heart in real time, beat by beat in a similar way to the scan mothers have when pregnant.

The charity's first fundraising event will be a white tie and diamonds summer ball at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, on Friday, June 9. A number of other events are also being planned for later in the summer including a garden party and prize auctions.

The charity is appealing for donations or items to be auctioned to help raise money. To make a donation can contact Joan Egan on 07831 118229.