Luke Thomas Cowan was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August last year and had a 10-hour operation to remove the cancer.

But when he had an scan after the surgery, doctors found it had spread to his brain stem and were unable to operate.

He had chemotherapy in a bid to stop the tumour growing until he was old enough to be given radiotherapy at the age of three – but he died in April after eight months of treatment.

Luke, his parents Maria, 37, and Norry, 40, and sisters Nina, seven, and Hannah, four, were supported by Clic Sargent, which helps families who have a child with cancer.

Now friends of the Cowans have helped give the fund a boost in memory of Luke.

Seaham's branch of the SAFC Supporters' Association raised £750 though a gentlemen's evening, when former player John McGovern was a guest speaker, and a C2C bike ride.

Its total was matched by Barclays in the town.

Eric Brown, a member of the branch who is also partner in Brown and Sutherland financial and mortgage advisers, said: "Seaham people being Seaham people, they felt they wanted to do something.

"The £750 to give wouldn't have been bad, but through the match funding it will make a difference."

Mrs Cowan, nee McCabe, moved to Broxburn in West Lothian, Scotland, from Seaham when she married her husband, who works at the National Gallery in Princess Street, Edinburgh.

Clic Sargent helped the family by giving Luke his own nurse and the use of a house opposite the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, giving them a home from home.

Mrs Cowan, who worked at PA Johnston dental surgery in Station Road, Seaham, for 15 years and is now studying an HNC in early years education, said: "Clic Sargent were just fantastic. They don't just look after your child – they look after all of you.

"Without this facility our long stays at the hospital would have been very difficult.

"The women who run it are always on hand with an understanding of how you are and are always there to give support. The house also gives families the opportunity to get to know each other and offer support when needed.

"It's extremely difficult for all parents to cope with seriously ill children, but with the help of charities like Clic Sargent it makes the journey more bearable."