FAMILY and friends have vowed to raise awareness and funds in memory of popular Bolton Wanderers fan Andrew 'Pud' Leigh.

Mr Leigh, popularly known as Pud among supporters, died in January aged 49 after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, brain tumour, in October 2015.

More than 1,000 mourners packed out Bolton Parish Church during his funeral in February.

And now family and friends have set up a fund to raise money and awareness to fight brain cancer — The Andrew 'Pud' Leigh Fund.

Pud's daughter Olivia, aged 22, said: "Dad was such a big personality and was loved by everyone who met him. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people, the second biggest funeral Bolton has ever had.

"We are such a close family and the loss we feel is immense. He was my best friend, we miss him every single day."

Following his diagnosis, Pud, from Horwich, underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the treatment was unsuccessful.

He fought for 14 months after his diagnosis until his death in January.

As well as Olivia, he left behind his son Harrison, aged 14 and wife Susan, aged 49.

His generous spirit was shown when he raffled off his personalised number plates in aid of The Christie hospital, where he was treated.

The fund, an official supporter of The Brain Tumour Charity, is aimed at raising money for vital research into the disease.

Miss Leigh, Olivia, said: "We wanted something positive to come out of all the devastation and we know it is just what dad would have wanted.

"Throughout dad’s illness it became so apparent how underfunded research in to brain tumours is and how little progress has been made regarding prognosis and quality of life. This needs to change.

"With further research and understanding we hope one day it will prevent families in the future losing a loved one too soon to this horrendous debilitating disease."

About 65 people took on the Total Warrior course in his memory and raised £1,600 for the fund.

Miss Leigh said: "There was about 100 of us there with loads of our family and friends coming out to cheer us on.

"It was fantastic to see how many people came out to support dad and us.”

Geraldine Pipping, The Brain Tumour Charity’s director of fundraising, said: “We are immensely grateful to Andrew’s family and friends for raising awareness and funds in the face of their own loss.

“We receive no government funding and rely 100% on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts Andrew’s family and friends and others like them that we can work towards our twin goals of doubling survival and halving the harm caused by brain tumours.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40 in the UK. Survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years. We need to change that.”