A FAMILY left heartbroken after the death of their relative were ‘overwhelmed’ when they raised an unexpected £2,600 at a charity event.

John Hargreaves and Holly and Gail Regan held an auction for East Lancashire Hospice in memory of their wife, sister and auntie Gina Hargreaves.

Gina, who was 62 when she died in May, became a patient at the centre after she was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2005.

It was the second tragedy for John, of Oswaldtwistle, who had married Gina in 2003 and lost his previous wife to the disease.

Holly and Gail also lost their dad and husband Barry to cancer in 2004.

The group decided to fundraise as tribute to her and family friend Dennis Cook, who died the previous month of myeloma.

They held a night at Edenfield Cricket Club on October 19.

Holly, 27, said: “We were overwhelmed when we added up the amount of money. People kept offering us more items to auction.

“We did not expect to get that much money from one event and would like to thank everyone who supported us.

“When Gina was ill it was a really difficult time for us and the staff at the centre were incredible and made both her and our stay there so much easier.

“We hope our event helped raise awareness of the fantastic work the staff and volunteers do there and hope that we can do another fundraiser.”

Kim Hall, of East Lancashire Hospice said: “We would like to thank John, Holly and Gail for their absolutely wonderful work which will help provide care for patients and their families where it is needed most.”