JOE Geeling's memory lives on in a special trust fund.

Shortly before his funeral, parents Tom and Gwen set up the fund to help charity organisations close to their son's heart: the Bury and District Cystic Fibrosis branch and Booth Hall Children's Hospital.

Instead of flowers, mourners were encouraged to make donations to the Joe Geeling Trust Fund.

And, in the months after the youngster's death, caring people in the borough and across the country were doing their bit to help boost the funds.

By the end of June, Joe's parents were able to present the two charities with cheques for £5,000.

The money would be used to benefit sufferers in hospital and fund ongoing research into the condition.

At a simple presentation ceremony, Tom said: "We will never get over losing Joe. When he died, Gwen and I agreed that a trust fund set up in memory of our son would have the aim of raising funds for charities that have played an important role in his life.

"We have been overwhelmed by the public's response and we cannot thank them enough.

"Everyone has given so generously, from individuals and families to schools, churches and businesses throughout Bury and across the country." Gwen added: "These donations are Joe's legacy. Certainly a good few children at Booth Hall will feel the benefit of this money and, in the background, expensive ongoing research into finding a permanent cure for cystic fibrosis continues to need a helping hand.

"Joe would be delighted that he has helped these two worthy causes."

While a large slice of the trust fund has now been handed out, it should not be long before further donations are made as cash continues to pour in.

Former Bury Times reporter Alison Barton raised several hundreds of pounds after completing the City of Manchester 10k run in memory of Joe.

And junior pupils at Bury Grammar School for Boys, where Gwen works, presented the Geelings with a £2,853 cheque.

The money was raised when the students held their annual charity sports day at which a variety of different relay races had to be completed in just more than half an hour.

Bury firefighters recently held a charity golf tournament and new recruits currently training at The Rock fire station in Bury did their bit for the fund by carrying a large ladder from the town centre to Peel Tower.

Other local schools and clubs have also been busy raising money in Joe's name.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS FACTS

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a chronic, progressive, and frequently fatal genetic (inherited) disease of the body's mucus glands. It primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems, clogging them with sticky mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe and digest food. The sweat glands and the reproductive system are also usually involved.
  • CF is the UK's most common, life-threatening, inherited disease, affecting over 7,500 people: 50 per cent are under 15 and 70 per cent under 20. On average, individuals with CF have a lifespan of approximately 30 years.
  • Each week five babies are born and three young lives lost to the disease.
  • There is no cure for CF. The best that doctors can do is to ease the symptoms or slow the progress of the disease so the patient's quality of life is improved. This is achieved by antibiotic therapy combined with treatments to clear the thick mucus from the lungs.
  • The Cystic Fibrosis Trust (CFT) funds medical and scientific research aimed towards understanding, treating and curing CF. It also aims to ensure that people with CF receive the best possible care and support in all aspects of their lives.
  • The CFT needs to raise £8 million per year. It is also committed to raising a further £15 million over five years to fund pioneering research into gene therapy with the aim of correcting the basic genetic defect.
  • The Bury branch of the CFT is seeking more volunteers to help raise money. Anyone interested in helping out should contact Myra Lunn on 0161 796 0924.
  • The regional regional fundraising manager covering Bury is Natalie Cossins who can be contacted on 0845 859 1064.
  • For more information on the aims and work of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust log on to its website at www.cftrust.org.uk