AN INCREDIBLE £250,000 has been raised in the name of a Herefordshire teenager who died from cancer a year ago - and that's just the story so far.

The money is worth a new teenage cancer ward to Birmingham Children's Hospital and means a boy for whom "anything was possible" can make the biggest difference to many other youngsters for years to come.

The family of Laurie Engel thought they might get about £10,000 when they started their campaign.

"What has come in is amazing and we're overwhelmed by the solidarity and affection, but nothing will ever make up for not having Laurie with us. We miss him every minute of every day," said Laurie's dad Matthew.

The Engels buried Laurie back in October last year at St Margaret's, in the shadow of the Black Mountains, near their Bacton home. By then they were determined to make the difference he wanted his death to make.

The smart, sporty 13-year-old said as much to his mum, Hilary, while he was waiting for another tough round of treatment on the cancer that would eventually claim him.

So mum and dad set up a fund in his name, their way to repay all that Laurie gave them over those 13 years. When the Hereford Times first featured the Engels' story, the fund took off. Now it has topped £250,000.

From community staples like coffee mornings to big dinners in London, cash for Laurie's fund has kept on coming in. It will improve treatment and facilities for teenage cancer patients across the country, starting close to home.

Based on national statistics, six teenage cancer patients from Herefordshire can expect to go to Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) for treatment. When Laurie was ill, the Engels found his care at BCH to be world class but the facilities and surroundings dismal.

So the fund is working with both BCH and the Teenage Cancer Trust to ensure better conditions for future patients.

Short term, the plan was to improve the existing teen cancer ward by next year, something now possible by match-funding Laurie money with that from the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Matthew expects a plan for the new ward will be put to the BCH trustees for approval soon. It will then go to Birmingham planners.

A consultation with youngsters and staff at BCH last week met with an enthusiastic response.

Donations can be sent to TCT Laurie Engel Fund, Fair Oak, Bacton, Herefordshire, HR2 0AT: or email tctlauriel@aol.com
More information on Laurie's fund can be found here