A LEUKAEMIA sufferer has raised over £7,000 to help pay for an extension to the hospital unit that cared for him.

Craig Bond, 21, raised the money with help from friends and family, by holding a live bands night and auction.

The former Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School pupil was diagnosed with the an aggressive form of the cancer just weeks after his 21st birthday.

"I felt really tired all the time, I didn’t even have the energy to enjoy my 21st birthday party," said Craig, of North Nibley. He went to the doctor for tests and just days later he was in hospital undergoing treatment.

For the last 10 months he has had to undergo chemotherapy every week and hasn’t been able to work.

"It does take the energy out of you. I had been lucky until recently but then my liver packed up and I had to miss the fundraising event."

Due to the strength of the chemotherapy Craig was receiving his liver shut down and the chemo stayed in his system, burning his insides and leaving him with sores in his mouth. But Craig still didn’t let it get him down.

"You have to be positive and always think to the future. I have never let the treatment get me down ever."

In September last year Craig’s cousin Sam Bond, a band member of The Ultimate Echoes, came up with the idea of doing a charity event and offered to play with his band.

The idea grew and grew until the event included three local bands, a raffle for a plasma wide screen TV, donated by Craig’s employer Mike Chalk, of MCR Vehicles in Yate and an auction with lots including two tickets to the London musical Mamma Mia donated by the show’s writer Katherine Johnson and merchandise from the Ford World Rally Team.

"So many people helped us, it was amazing," said Craig. "Mostly it was friends, family and contacts that we had locally. I really want to say a big thank you to everyone who donated to the evening."

The music night was held at Berkeley Sports and Social club which can fit in 350 people and tickets sold out within a week.

The money raised will be given to LINC (Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund) to help fund an extension to the Edward Jenner unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.