A GUEST speaker night with Grimsby Town legend John McDermott raised £2,000 for cancer sufferer Amy Jackson.
The former full-back, who clocked up a record of more than 750 appearances for the Mariners, spoke at a packed Empire Pub, in Grimsby, in March.
The event, which included the auction of football memorabilia, raised £2,000 towards Amy and her family's dream of a holiday of a lifetime.
As reported, Amy, 26, of Cleethorpes, has incurable cancer. Last month she married her sweetheart Scott Jackson at the Oaklands Hall Hotel, in Laceby.
Their appeal has captured the hearts of Grimsby Telegraph readers and has so far raised more than £10,000.
John said he was keen to help with Amy's appeal after his sister died from breast cancer eight years ago.
"Her story touched me because of my own sister who we lost. I wanted to help if I could," he said.
"I was originally going to donate a signed shirt that I had, but then I thought I needed to do something more.
"The night was a real success and I was amazed at how many people came. It was my first guest speaker night and we had a good laugh and I shared a lot of stories from my playing days.
"We have raised a fantastic amount. I have always found that the people of Grimsby dig deep when it comes to one of their own."
Amy said: "We are really pleased with how much was made and were impressed with how well the night went down.
"We have been amazed with the response to the appeal and it is still going strong."
Former Mariners midfielder Dave Boylen, who helped organise the event, said: "John wanted to help as his sister had a similar illness. I have known him since he first started at Grimsby and I knew he would want to help.
"It was a fabulous night and was really well attended.
"The Empire used to be my local when I first moved over here and it is a great community pub."
Pub owner Mark Smith said: "I got talking to Scott through darts and he asked if he could use the venue for an event, and we were glad we could help.
"There were a lot of people that made it happen and on the night we had some fantastic auction items like signed shirts and footballs. It went crazy on the night and people wanted to put their hands in their pockets.
"Amy's is such a sad situation. We wanted to play a part in her appeal."
The Empire has now acquired signed Manchester City and Manchester United shirts, as well as a football photo signed by United legends Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton.
The pub is inviting sealed bids for each, as separate items, which can be put in an envelope with contact details and handed over at the bar before closing time on Saturday, May 17.
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