£24K RAISED IN JAMES' MEMORY Date : 07.02.08

Family and friends of a man killed in a car crash have kept his promise to raise money for charity. Before his death, James Eyers had been planning to do some fundraising for the Dorothy House Hospice Care charity - including running the Bath Half Marathon.

Now events organized in his memory have brought in nearly £24,000 for the cause.

James, who worked for Bathampton tax consultancy Marcussen, died in a road crash between Bathford and Bradford on Avon last March.

The 27-year-old, from Frome, had been due to marry his fiancée Tamara Richards this August.

Much of the money for the hospice charity was raised at an auction at Frome Rugby Club organized by Tamara, which featured more than 100 lots, including a helmet signed by racing driver and former school friend Jenson Button.

James' mother, Sue Edwards, said: 'James had been planning to so some fundraising work for Dorothy House, because his friend's father had been looked after at the hospice.

'We also discovered he had been making regular donations to a cancer charity, so we decided to go ahead and fundraise for the hospice in his memory.'

Other activities were organized by family and friends - including James' brother, Andrew, who took his place in the Bath Half two days after James' death.

Friend Gareth Wright completed a sponsored static bike ride and his employer, David Marcusson, ran the New York Marathon, while friends Rob Lye and Paul Fricker both took part in the Bristol Half Marathon.

The money raised, which in total was £23,968.24, will help sponsor an occupational therapist at the hospice, and the family hope to keep fundraising to fund the post.

Sue said: 'James did a sports science degree, so we felt it an appropriate way to use the money.

'We've always been a close family but I think this has brought us even closer, and all his friends.'

Katrina Sudbury, director of fundraising at Dorothy House in Winsley, said: 'We're thrilled to have this fantastic amount of money raised by James' friends and family. We're incredibly impressed with their energy and commitment. This is a marvelous way of remembering James.'

Andrew, Sue, Tamara and five other friends and family members will be running this year's Bath Half on March 16 for Dorothy House's James Eyers Memorial Fund.

The charity still has some places in the race - call 01225 721480. To support the James Eyers Memorial Fund, log on to www.jameseyersmemorialfund.co.uk or to www. justgiving.com/jameseyers.