Felpham fun helps raise £2,000 for former student

The cash was collected at a fun day and live music event held in honour of Conway Mason.

Conway, 43, has been given just a year to live.

He is suffering from an incurable case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma but, as a resident of Vancouver in Canada, he has to pay for his medication.

This has strained his and his partner's finances.

His friends and relatives decided to help out by staging the special occasion at the Family Tree pub.

Conway's mother, Joy Mason, said her son had become emotional when he was told about people's generosity.

"We didn't tell him the event was going on until the 11th hour," she said.

"He was very overwhelmed by it. He couldn't believe so many people cared enough about him and his situation to help him."

The nine hours featured performances by a range of local bands who turned out for free.

The live music included Renegade Cowboys, Andy Cawley and Gavin Barnard, If 6 was 9, WOB and Sixfifteen.

Other activities included raffles, competitions, children's craft activities, face painting and karaoke.

Mrs Mason stated: "The day was very successful. A lot of people had a lot of fun and spent a lot of money, which is what it was all about.

"I am grateful to all those who helped. There were quite a few of Conway's old friends who had not seen each other for years."

One of her friends, Sharon Wicks, led the organisation and the pub's licensees happily agreed to host the event.

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