THE family of a woman who died of breast cancer this year have donated a well in her memory thanks to a Durham charity.

Retired businessman Clive Rook and his sons Stuart and Jonathan joined Jim O’Connor, who runs the charity Dorothy’s Well, on a trip to Tanzania, where they helped to hand over four wells to rural communities.

The Rook family, from Durham, donated £25,000, the cost of installing a well, in memory of Clive’s wife Lynne, who was a supporter of the charity and died earlier this year.

She found out about the work Dorothy’s Wells does at a presentation by Mr O’Connor, from Esh Village, and was so inspired she wanted to support his work.

After her death, following a short battle with breast cancer, they decided to donate enough to have a well in her memory, which is now working the village of Chem Chem, in Tanzania.

Mr Rook said: “The wonderful celebration of the well opening by the children and parents of Chem Chem village was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of our lives.”

Mr O’Connor founded the charity following the death of his wife Dorothy, a nurse who died from breast cancer in January 2008, aged 56.

Starting with the intention of digging one well in her memory, the grandfather has now raised more than £500,000 and installed 18 wells, serving around 8,000 school children and 62,000 people living in Tanzania, in east Africa.

He said: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and continuing support of people from across the North-East. Thanks to them, children can grow up free of the water borne diseases, which have caused the remorseless cycle of sickness and death.

“This is the first vital step out of poverty and enables generations to come to realise their full potential and provide for a self-sustainable future.”

This was his 14th trip to the country and he was joined by seven people who have supported the work of the charity.

He is now hoping to continue raising money with the hope of getting another £50,000, which would pay for another two wells and bring the total created to 20.

He said: “It was my intention to provide one well in memory of Dorothy, but having experienced the hardship these children endure and the life changing benefit that clean water brings to these communities, I cannot turn away."