THE father of a teenage girl who was diagnosed with leukaemia 12 months ago today thanked people for helping his daughter to a huge fund-raising success.

Kerry Hamilton, 15, of Richmond Park, Darwen, raised £2,200 for the Borchardt ward at Manchester's Pendlebury Children's Hospital after organising a charity night at Hollins Grove Conservative Club, Darwen.

The event, which included a disco and raffle, was held last Friday - exactly a year to the day after the Darwen Moorland High School pupil was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

She has spent the last year in and out of hospital undergoing intense chemotherapy treatment which is set to continue for the next 15 months.

But the determined teenager, who recently started work experience at Lynwood Bryn Nursery, in Darwen, has put a new wheelchair for the ward top of her shopping list, followed by the installation of a seat in the shower area.

Today her father, Stuart, said he was overwhelmed at the amount of support his family had received and thanked everyone who made donations to the fund.

He said: "I could go on all day how supportive everyone has been. We just can't believe the response we have had and the amount of money Kerry has raised.

"It's unbelievable. We just want to say a big thank you to everyone.

"We have had anonymous donations through the post and even after the event the taxi driver who took us home said we didn't have to pay and told us to put the money towards the hospital.

"This was the first night Kerry has been out and I haven't had such a great night in ages, and everyone else said the same.

"She wanted to give something back to the hospital because of all the time she has spent there and the doctors and nurses suggested she should choose what to spend the money so she can see how it has been spent."

Kerry's mum, Judith, said: "There were so many people who helped. We have doubled the amount we expected to raise and more. The support we have had has been fantastic and we just want to say thank you."