Charity walk in memory of 22-year-old cancer victim

Paul Oakley died at the home he grew up in in Bloxwich after battling cancer for almost two years.

Seven weeks before his death he took part in a 10k run in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Royal Centre Defence Medicine Patient Welfare Fund, which supported him through his fight with the disease.

His father Andrew organised another walk from Barr Beacon to the Sir Robert Peel pub in Bloxwich and 62 people took part.

The 47-year-old said: "I decided I wanted to do it in Paul's memory and raise money for his two charities.

"Before he died Paul said he wanted us to carry on fundraising in his memory and that is what we are doing.

"I am sure he would be immensely proud of us and we are all really thankful to everyone who took part in the walk."

In the last months of his life Mr Oakley, of Birdbrook Road in Great Barr, set up a charity called The Joker Foundation to raise funds for the two charities.

He vowed to raise £5,000 before his death and managed to reach that target.

Donations have now shot up to £17,000 and his father said he expects it to reach £20,000 by the end of the year.

He added: "Paul only wanted to raise £5,000 so to think that it is almost at the £20k mark is fantastic.

"He would be absolutely astounded by how generous everyone has been and I can't thank everyone who has donated enough for what they have done to support Paul and his family."

Mr Oakley, who joined the Royal Navy when he was 16, was diagnosed with cancer after visiting his GP to find out the cause of a niggling cough in 2011.

A tumour was discovered in his chest and he was given radiotherapy but the cancer spread to his liver, lungs and stomach and doctors told him the illness was terminal

He died in September last year and his family plan to organise various events in his memory to raise money for the two charities.