AN Eastburn resident who lost a 37-year-old friend to cancer will spend 2018 raising cash for the charity which supported his friend during his final days.

Kevin Keogh's close friend, Craig Bennett, died in January 2016. Mr Bennett had lived in Wibsey.

Mr Keogh plans to collect the cash for Macmillan Cancer Support by completing a series of challenges, the first of which involves abstaining from alcohol for 12 months.

He had his last alcoholic drink on November 12 2017 and will not touch another drop until what would have been Mr Bennett's 40th birthday – on November 13 2018.

Mr Keogh is also taking on the Yorkshire Tough Mudder in July, along with the Manchester Colour Run and finishing with the York Marathon in October.

Previously, he and some other fundraisers including Mr Bennett's work colleagues from HB Projects in Bradford, took part in a charity cycle ride from Liverpool to Leeds.

He said: “I really want to ramp up the fundraising this year, as I know how important it is to Macmillan to generate money to help people like Craig, as well as family and friends.

“People have been so supportive in helping me to reach my £1,000 target, but I'm determined to continue to raise as much money as I can throughout the year."

Local Macmillan fundraising manager, Adele Hopkins, said: “I'm so grateful to Kevin for choosing to back Macmillan by taking on a number of different challenges.

"Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. We rely on our fantastic fundraisers like Kevin for 99 per cent of our income every year.

"Every penny raised will help us to be there for people when they need us most.”

People can visit justgiving.com/fundraising/kevin-keogh to boost Mr Keogh's efforts.