35,000 reasons to say thanks to 'Bunty' fund.

Byline: Will Sutton

Friends, family and a fiancAe have raised pounds 35,000 in tribute to a young Teesside man.

Jonathan 'Bunty' Hunt, 31, from Marton, died from testicular cancer at James Cook University Hospital in 1994.

Relatives and friends of the lively character decided to form the Bunty Memorial Fund and since then have raised pounds 35,000.

The money has gone to the holistic cancer care centre at James Cook Hospital.

Angela Duffy, 38, from Nunthorpe, was engaged to Jonathan for five years before he died and has been central to the fundraising effort.

She said: "I first met Jonathan on a night out in Middlesbrough and he was a very genuine man.

"He was so well liked by everybody and had such a warmth about him, he just seemed to light the place up," she added.

"These days the fundraising seems to take care of itself and the boys at his local pub took on the challenge automatically.

"I want to express my thoughts and thanks to everyone over the years for their continuing support for a really good cause."

Jonathan's local pub, The Bruntons Arms in Marton, has played a charity match every Easter in his memory.

Jeff Metcalfe, a volunteer at the centre on the James Cook site, said: "We're always remembered by Angela and Jonathan's friends and family and it's fantastic they've raised such a huge amount of money over the years.

"The centre relies on constant fundraising to keep us going and it never ceases to amaze me how people keep coming back to us, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts."