DANIEL’s Light, the Whaley Bridge-based charity raising money to fight leukaemia, moves on to nearly quarter of a million pounds, donated to the Christie Hospital in the last 18 years.

Marathon runner Raj Mahardjan with Jack from Christie and Joyce and John Shacklock

Joyce and John Shacklock, from Furness Vale, set up the charity in memory of their son Daniel, a victim of leukaemia at the age of 20.  They handed over the latest cheque for £7,000 to Christie community officer Jacky Plant, bringing the grand total to £219,000.

The latest sum was raised from many coffee mornings and efforts by volunteers, and included £1,000 from this year’s charity blockbuster, the Mellor March,  and £801 from a marathon run by one of Joyce’s near neighbours, Raj  Mahardjan.  He may only be about eight stone, but Raj – willed on by his wife Caroline – ran the 26 miles of the Greater Manchester Marathon 2013 in 3hr 39min 22sec, a personal best.  Raj, 46, a member of the Goyt Valley Striders, is a valet porter at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.  He was sponsored by the famous hotel, and supported by many staff there.

Jacky Plant, accepting the cheque, said:  “They are wonderful people here, with big hearts.”  And turning to Raj, she said:  “That was a great contribution.”

Further information about Daniel’s Light from Joyce Shacklock on 01663

732 187. More on the Christie website www.christie.nhs.uk