A FATHER used his 60th birthday celebrations to raise money for The Bolton News' Garden of Tranquillity appeal in memory of his son, Stephen, who died four years ago at Bolton Hospice.

Thomas and Marilyn Weall were devastated when Stephen, aged 32, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

The father-of-one battled the disease for two years, enduring chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant, before he lost his fight for life in May, 2003.

His grandfather, Thomas, of Aston Gardens, Farnworth, said: "I can't praise the hospice enough for what they did for Stephen and his family, they were amazing.

"Stephen used to like to sit outside and somewhere nice to sit would have been wonderful for him.

" It would have been great to because you do need somewhere to go and gather your thoughts and a beautiful garden would be perfect."

Mr Weall, a former caretaker for the Castle Street Social Centre for the Blind, held his 60th birthday celebratons at Farnworth Social Circle Cricket Club on Saturday. More than 200 guests enjoyed the party and £700 was raised.

Mrs Weall, aged 55, who is an administration assistant at Bolton Council, said: "It was a fantastic night. It was also a lovely way to honour Stephen.

"We're so grateful to everyone for their donations and it's really nice that Stephen's memory lives on in all our hearts."

The Bolton News launched the appeal to raise £100,000 to renovate the hospice grounds, which have not been updated since it opened almost 15 years ago.

Almost £90,000 has so far been raised.

To make a donation, cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Bolton Hospice and can be returned to The Bolton News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.

If you are organising an event, contact The Bolton News health reporter, Jane Lavender, on 01204 537350.