THE total amount raised for The Northern Echo's Stanley Burns Pit Disaster Memorial Appeal stands at nearly £2,500.

The money will be used for a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in unmarked mass burial trenches in Stanley, County Durham.

A total of 168 men and boys died in the explosion at the Burns Pit in 1909, but most were buried privately.

About 35 people attended a talk on the subject at Bishop Auckland Town Hall recently. They contributed £35, which will be added to £200 recently sent by a relative of one of the deceased miners.

In the audience was Wendy Haydock, the great-great niece of the hero of the disaster, Mark Henderson.

Mr Henderson helped save 26 men and boys by making sure they remained in a pocket of uncontaminated air.

Earlier, seven other members of the group had made a run for it, but each died.

Another miner, 14-year-old Jimmy Garner, his legs crushed, died as his comrades sang the hymn Lead Kindly Light.

Mr Henderson kept his nerve and, after 14 hours entombed in the mine, he risked his life and went for help.

Passing the bodies of the seven miners who fled earlier, he finally found a telephone.

Mr Henderson then went back and brought out a small group of the men to a point where the rescue team could easily find them.

He made the journey another five times. One of the survivors was Frank Keegan, the grandfather of former Newcastle United player and coach Kevin Keegan.

Ms Haydock, of Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, said: "I did not even know about him until a few years ago. I feel very proud of him."

She said she would like to meet other descendants of Mr Henderson.

Call Northern Echo reporter Chris Webber on (01642) 513346 if you can help.