Christmas cards on sale in honour of inspirational Stephen Sutton
Festive cards featuring inspirational teenager Stephen Sutton are being sold at a pub in Staffordshire to raise funds for the charity he supported.
The former Chase Terrace Technology College student's courage in the face of cancer inspired the nation and raise £5million for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
He died in May, aged 19 but a picture of him taken with Santa at the Drill Inn, Burntwood, last December, has now been used as a design for Christmas cards.
Some 2,000 have been printed by White Lodge Promotions in Lichfield and put on sale.
Landlord Tony Tully, who took the picture is selling the cards in packs of five for £3 and the proceeds raised will go towards the trust.
There will also be a Santa's grotto at the pub on December 6 and 7, with proceeds also going to the charity.
Mr Tully, aged 57, said: "The event will allow children to follow in Stephen's footsteps and come with their wish lists to sit on Santa's lap.
"We've done it for the last two years and it is usually very popular. We are hoping to get 100 to 200 people there over the two days, if not more.
"All profits will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, as will the proceeds from selling the Christmas cards.
"We've had 2,000 cards made up into 400 packs.
"They've been on sale since the weekend and they are going quite steady. We've sold about 40 packs so far.
"I'm happy with how they've turned out. They honour his memory in a good way."
The Santa's grotto will be open between 4pm and 6pm on both days and admission is £2.
Mr Tully and his wife Gill have already raised more than £6,000 for the appeal by holding a festival last summer and another recent live music event raised more than £2,000.
Mr Tully said they got to know Stephen well last year and wanted to keep his spirit alive.
The teenager was honoured with an MBE in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, just weeks after losing his fight against cancer.
Stephen, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 15, became a household name during his fundraising drive for the fight against cancer, staying positive throughout his illness, always smiling and giving the 'thumbs up'.
See also:
'He touched more lives than he'll ever know' - Stephen Sutton dies after cancer battle
Teenager Stephen Sutton up for a national award
Stephen Sutton awarded MBE after his death from cancer
Mother of inspirational Stephen Sutton: Warning signs of son's cancer 'ignored'
