A GROUP of friends have raised £1,650 at a charity event held in tribute to a man who died after losing his battle with cancer aged 49.

Maurice Victor Campbell, known to his friends as Mo, was born in Northern Ireland but moved to Radcliffe 27 years ago.

Diagnosed in August last year, Mo, who worked at Colour Anodising Ltd in Radcliffe for 17 years, died in January back in his homeland.

Mo wasn’t married and had no children but was a big part of his own “Manchester family”, who were avid Manchester City fans and regularly attended matches together.

To celebrate Mo’s life, his pals decided to organise an evening to remember all of the happy memories they shared together, but also to try and raise money for the two places that he held close to his heart, Altnagelvin Hospital in Northern Ireland and the Christie Hospital.

Friend Samantha Turner, 40, of Moreton Drive, Bury, said: “Mo was a happy character, always with a smile on his face and liked to share a joke and laugh with his many friends.

“He spent a lot of time in Christie’s Hospital and moved back home to Altnagelvin Hospital just before Christmas to spend time with his loving family so the money raised will go to them.”

The friends have now appealed to Bury Council for a remembrance bench to be installed in Coronation Park as Mo lived in the area for so long.

“We will all miss him as he was such a big part of our lives,” Samantha added.