A BRAVE father’s tragic battle with cancer has inspired his children to help others fighting the disease.

Brian Stevens died at Bolton Hospice just weeks after being diagnosed while on a family holiday in Cyprus.

Mr Stevens, a former Bolton Community College lecturer, who was made redundant in July, had been feeling unwell since January but put it down to stress caused by the imminent loss of his job.

After watching his wife, Susan, graduate with a foundation degree at Liverpool Hope University, Mr Stevens and the rest of his family — son James, aged eight, daughter Sarah, aged 21, and her boyfriend, John Mcardle — went on holiday to Cyprus. After falling ill and being diagnosed with terminal cancer of the oesophagus, which had spread, he was airlifted back to the Royal Bolton Hospital, along with his wife and young son.

Mr Stevens, aged 52, from Kearsley, had one session of radiotherapy at The Christie in a bid to relieve his pain, but it failed to have any impact.

It was while he was a patient at the Royal Bolton Hospital that Mr Stevens, a Bolton Wanderers fanatic, received a visit from his hero, former manager Sam Allardyce.

On August 13, he was transferred to Bolton Hospice, where he died on August 29.

Mrs Stevens, who is also a Brownie leader, said: “The care we all received from the hospice was amazing and we wanted to give something back.”

The next fundraising evening will be held at St Gregory’s Club in Farnworth on November 14. Band Dark Star and Kerry Firth will be performing and there will be a quiz and a raffle.

Tickets are £10 and include a supper. For more information call 01204 571690.