A BEAWORTHY fundraiser inspired by her grandson is appealing for support and new fundraising ideas.

Mary Tomes set up the Okehampton fundraising group earlier this year to support Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, a charity that specialises in blood cancers. She is looking for people with fresh fundraising ideas or anyone willing to help.

In February 2011, Mary's grandson Arran, who was four and a half years old at the time, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He went through seven months of intense treatment, and has since been given the all-clear.

During these difficult months, Mary and various friends and family created the Arran Tomes Support Fund, to assist Arran's parents, Mike and Claire, with costs incurred due to his illness.

Mary said: 'As Arran is now on the mend and improving daily, I decided to continue with my fundraising efforts. I asked my son and daughter-in-law which charity had helped them the most. Their answer was research. Mike's reply was that if it had not been for all the research, then Arran may not be with us today.

'I have to say I had never thought of it in that context before, but the more I thought about it I felt it had to be right.'

At present, fundraising consists of stalls at community markets, coffee mornings, car boots and plant sales.

Mary is looking for anyone who can help with an autumn family walk, or who would like to support her fundraising efforts in any way.

If you would like to support Mary, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01837 871541. You can find out more by visiting http://www.beatingbloodcancers.org">www.beatingbloodcancers.org and typing 'Okehampton Fundraising Group' into the site's search bar.