Family and friends honour Marc Thompson

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Family and friends honour Marc Thompson , 26, and raise £4,600 for charities

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FRIENDS and the family of a young father, who died at the age of 26 from a brain tumour, have raised almost £5,000 in his memory.

A raffle and disco, held in honour of Marc Thompson, saw prizes such as signed football shirts and race days generate £4,600 for Brain Tumour Research UK and Nightingale MacMillan Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital.

Almost 200 people packed into Mickleover Country Park Hotel for the event.

It was organised by Marc's lifelong friends, Amy Moon and Matt Courtnage, while the father-of-one was still battling the disease.

Amy, 27, of Mackworth, said: "Marc touched the lives of so many people and I firmly believe the night was such a success because he was loved by everybody.

"His family and friends had such a brilliant, brilliant night, even though there were one or two really emotional moments."

Marc, a special constable with Derbyshire police, died on September 17 at his Mickleover home after battling cancer for more than a year.

He was hoping to become a regular policeman after gaining huge respect in his volunteer role in Derby.

But his ambition was tragically cut short when a spinal tumour spread to his brain, leaving him in a wheelchair.

Marc's symptoms began to show themselves shortly before the birth of his son, Connor, now two.

As doctors tried to find the source of a weakness in his left leg, postman Marc would continue to get up at 4am, deliver his round, return home and grab a couple of hours of sleep before going out on the streets on patrol as a "special".

But he had to cut short his volunteering when finally, in November, medics confirmed they had found a rare form of cancer in his spine.

And in July this year, Marc and long-term partner Cat were married in the Macmillan Unit at Royal Derby Hospital.

Marc finally succumbed to the disease surrounded by his family.

Amy, who knew Marc from the age of five, said: "There was one moment on Saturday night, just after we had set off some fireworks outside, when everyone came inside and gathered together on the dance floor for a moment of reflection.

"I just said to everyone 'come on, this isn't what Marc would have wanted, he would have wanted us all to be dancing around and having a great time' which really lifted the room."

Raffle prizes included a signed Derby County shirt, which was won by Marc's stepfather, Tim Taylor, a signed Brazil football shirt and a tour around the Lotus Formula One factory.

Marc's mum, Mandy Taylor, 53, said: "It was an emotional night but really, really enjoyable and I think everyone had a great time.

"All I've heard from Tim, Marc's stepdad, is about him winning the signed Derby County shirt.

"I've told him if he gets it framed it might have to go in the garage."