A COUNTY Durham woman, who lost her mother to cancer, has raised more than £2,500 for charity by holding a bonfire party in her honour.

Rachel Turner, 41, from Bishop Middleham, organised the annual village event to raise money for Cancer Research UK - a charity that has been close to her heart following the sudden death of her mother Elizabeth Peebles in 2008.

Mrs Peebles was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called meningeal gliomatosis, which affects the nervous system and was told she only had weeks to live.

Since then, her devoted daughter has been actively fundraising for Cancer Research, with last week’s bonfire party raising £2,639.

“My mother was snatched away and I just had to do something,” said Mrs Turner. “Everywhere I look everybody is touched by cancer. It devastates families and the ripple effect that cancer has touches so many people.”

The mother-of-two plans to organise more fundraising events in the future, including another bonfire party next year.

She is urging others in the region to support the charity. To find out how visit cancerresearchuk.org/fundraising.