Lyn and Tony Wright set up the Darren Wright Fund in 1986 after their beloved son lost his battle with cancer in 1985.

Darren Wright, who attended Westbourne High School, died at the age of 13, having undergone treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The cash the couple have raised has benefited sufferers and their families around the region.

Now, after years of dedication, Mr and Mrs Wright have decided to close the fund, having moved out of the county.

Mrs Wright said: “When we originally set up the fund, we decided that the money would be donated to the Royal Marsden Hospital’s child oncology ward.

“The money raised paid for medical equipment and play equipment for the family room, amongst a lot of other things.”

After three or four years, the couple then contacted Ipswich Hospital and the fund has benefited the facility since.

The 62-year-old said setting up the fund had helped her to deal with her grief.

She said: “We found that it helped with our grief and helped to keep us positive in what was a very negative time.

“After so many years of working to raise the money, we’ve decided to wind things up.

“Darren was a very generous child and it has been great to do this in his name.”

Mr Wright said family and friends throughout Ipswich had helped them through their grief and to raise the mammoth sum of money.

He said: “We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us, no matter how much was donated – it all made a big difference.”

The last of the money raised will be donated to Ipswich Hospital in the coming weeks.

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