£7k gift for hospice in memory of Daniel Bennett

He loved to help people - and now his death at the tragically young age of 28 has provided much needed support for the West Midlands hospice where he spent his final days.

Friends, family and colleagues of Black Country sales engineer Daniel Bennett dug deep and contributed £7,660 when asked for donations after he succumbed to cancer.

The financial gifts included large offerings from workmates at Static Systems in Wombourne where he had worked for 10 years.

The directors matched the amount raised by staff. The fellow directors of his father Robert at furniture manufacturers ACL 2002 Ltd in Netherton were equally generous and the money was handed to Wolverhampton's Compton Hospice by his mother Jacqui.

The donation will go towards its £1 million Raise the Roof Appeal and help pay for the £3.5m redevelopment of its main patient unit. Work started on the project in August and is expected to be completed in May next year.

Mrs Bennett, aged 57, from Withymoor Village, Brierley Hill, said: "This will be a wonderful legacy of Daniel. He was always helping people and it will mean that his spirit lives on with his memory continuing to assist those being cared for at the hospice.

"I do not know what we would have done without the wonderful doctors and nurses at Compton Hospice who showed so much compassion and care.

"We would like to thank all his friends, family and workmates because their generosity has enabled us to say thank you to all the staff with this donation."

Daniel, whose 31-year-old accountant brother James lives in Amblecote, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March this year and died just six months later despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment at both Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

He passed away at Compton Hospice where he had been admitted in the middle of July.

The former pupil at Thorns School and Community College in Quarry Bank and King Edward VI College in Stourbridge had just completed a four year part time degree in Law at the Open University.