WELLWISHERS have donated almost £15,000 in memory of a young woman who died of cancer a day before she was due to get married.

Anna Swabey, 25, passed away at her home in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Friday - nearly two years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

She was due to marry her fiancé Andy Bell in the Richmond area on Saturday.

The former York College and Mount School pupil had been working towards raising £100,000 for Brain Tumour Research - a target which now looks set to be met by the time her funeral is held on Friday, after her story moved many to donate to the fund in her honour.

The running total currently stands at £98,000, with her sister Victoria saying her family are “amazed by the tremendous support she has received so far”.

Wendy Fulcher, founder of the Brain Tumour Research Campaign, said: “People have responded so generously with donations in Anna’s memory. The total raised so far is climbing steadily towards the £100,000 target which she had set herself.

“Andy and all of Anna’s family are so touched by the outpouring of love and admiration for this remarkable young woman.

“Sadly, Anna’s story is not unique. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer … yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease.

“In addition to raising money, Anna wanted people to be more aware of brain tumours and the underfunding of research into the disease. The news of her death, all the more tragic as it came the day before she and Andy had planned to marry, has been reported around the world. She would have been pleased with that.”

Friends and family remembered her by spending the weekend at the accommodation she would have enjoyed on her big day.

If you would like to donate to Anna’s fund for Brain Tumour Research, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/InsideMyHead