AN Accrington mum is celebrating reaching a landmark in her £1million charity mission.


Susan Johnson has helped to raise more than £800,000 in 25 years, and has collected more than £40,000 so far this year.


The 57-year-old mother-of-two started her charity work for Macmillan after the death of her close friend’s sister, Marie King, who died from cancer aged 34.


After more than two decades of fashion shows, events, and parties, tragedy struck once again.


Susan said: “My friend, the sister of Marie, died of eye cancer in January 2010.


“Barbara Donohue was 61, had just become a grandma and was starting to look forward to retirement.


“I want to continue doing the work we started 25 years ago.”


Susan owns and runs the Peel Park Hotel, in Turkey Street, with her husband David, and son David Jnr.


Her daughter, Sarah, is on the other side of the bar - and works as a barrister.


Alongside Marie and Barbara’s other sister, Jeanette Parks, Susan continues to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, and sets herself a target of £40,000 a year.


She said: “We have already exceeded that this year. The charity events are endless. We are on the go all the time and we have at least one a month, whether it’s a fashion show, a lunch, or quiz event.


“I didn’t want to take over Barbara’s post of area chair for Macmillan, and said I would only become caretaker, but eventually I said I’d do it.”


Macmillan fundraising manager for East Lancashire, Seb Farrell, said: “She is an amazing person. It’s no coincidence that, in East Lancashire, we are able to afford two information pods, 30 nurses, a lung cancer specialist, and a Macmillan GP.


“It’s not a lie to say if we did not have Susan Johnson, we would not be able to afford to fund those services.”


An invite-only charity event for customers of Peel Park Hotel will be held on Saturday, November 2.
The event will feature music, a buffet, an auction, and raffle.


For more information, call the hotel on 01254 235830.