Northumberland College staff fundraise in Dan's memory

Posted by The Journal on May 28, 09 02:07 PM in News

College staff honouring the memory of a popular Northumberland student who died from a rare blood disorder have raised more than ÃÂ£1,000 for a charity which helps teenagers fight cancer.

Danny Petini, 18, a sports science student at Northumberland College in Ashington, died on New Year's Day 2008 after battling leukaemia and the blood disease haemophagocytic syndrome.

Northumberland College staff on a bike ride for Danny Petini

Danny's last months were spent at the teenage cancer unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where the quality of his care was highly praised by his family.

Now the Teenage Cancer Trust, which runs the RVI unit, has been given more than ÃÂ£1,000 after IT staff at the college completed a second Bike for Dan ride.

Twelve were sponsored by family, friends and colleagues to cycle a 32-mile course, which started and finished at the Ashington campus and took in the coastal route through Lynemouth and Amble.

IT data quality manager at the college, Luke Rutherford, said: "This was our second Bike for Dan trip and we wanted to build on the success of last year's ride and raise more money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

"The lads have done a fantastic job raising so much money."

Danny lived in Hepscott Park, Morpeth, with parents Enrico, 47, and Janet, 48, and brothers Matthew, 21, and Joseph, 14. He had dreamed of being a model and was on the books of a North East agency. His other hobbies were karate, boxing and dancing.

Since his death, friends and fellow students have held two 12-hour danceathon events at the college to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Friends are also organising a fundraising ska reggae concert at Northumbria University on June 21, the proceeds of which will go to the same charity.

The Teenage Cancer Trust is currently raising funds to build a ÃÂ£1.9m unit at the RVI to treat young people with cancer from across the North East.

It will replace the original six-bed TCT ward which was opened in October 1997 by the Duchess of York.

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