THE family and friends of an Accrington foster carer given 18 months to live after being diagnosed with prostate cancer are holding a fund-raising extravaganza to try and fulfil his last wish.

Glyn Fielding, 42, of Cambridge Street, Accrington, was diagnosed with the terminal disease after 11 months of hospital tests, at the age of 38.

Despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the disease has now spread to his ribs, arm, pelvis and bladder, causing extreme pain.

When Glyn was diagnosed, his wife Carol, 48, started to put money aside to pay for a last family holiday.

But after a water leak at their home, which caused extensive damage to the roof and ceilings, all the money was swallowed up when the insurance company refused to pay out.

When Carol’s daughter Debbie Kenrick, 24, and her best friend Larayn Draper, 23, heard about the couple’s dire situation they decided to step in and help raise more cash by launching Gladrags for Glyn.

This is an auction and raffle night in honour of the former Rising Bridge Little Chef manager, with the aim of sending him on a dream final holiday.

So far the duo, along with Glyn’s wife, have managed to secure hundreds of pounds worth of prizes including an all-in- one scanner, printer and fax from computer manufacturer Dell, a hot air balloon ride with the Pendle Balloon Company, a meal for two plus a room and breakfast at the luxury Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel and a night for two at the Sparth Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors.

Carol, a childcare worker at an Accrington children’s home, said: "What the girls have done for us is great and really helps me keep my mind off all the things that are happening to Glyn.

"It was such a shock when he was diagnosed because many people didn’t think he was old enough to have prostate cancer.

"I just can’t believe how generous people who don’t even know us have been. We have everything from haircuts to nights in hotels to auction off.

"Glyn’s absolutely wiped out from the chemotherapy and we would love to go on holiday to just get away from all the stress and worry for a while."

The couple, who also have a son, Reece, 15, and a foster daughter Sinead, 16, are now appealing to local businesses for more goods they can raffle off at the event at Platt’s Social Club, Accrington, on 4 July from 7.30pm.

Anyone wanting to donate can ring Carol on 07779 718154 or email gladrags_for_glyn@hotmail.co.uk