A LANCASHIRE businessman has been inspired by the tragic loss of a young family member to donate 10 percent of his company’s commissions over the next two months to charity.

Myles Cunliffe, 41, who is managing director of Get Me Car Finance in Brockhall Village, Old Lango was hit hard by the loss of relative Cameron Duxbury from ulcerative colitis at the age of just 20.

Cameron, who was from Egerton, was his sister’s nephew and Mr Cunliffe is close to the family.

He said: “When I learnt of Cameron’s passing, it really hit me and my family hard.

“I can’t imagine the pain and heartbreak of his immediate family.

“Cameron was my sister and brother-in-law’s nephew, and I grew up playing cricket locally with Cameron’s dad, Nigel.

“I just can’t bear to think of what they are going through, as well as his mum, Cherise, and sister, Caitlin.

“So it’s close to my heart and I’ll do what I can to do my best to raise awareness for the charity and get donations.”

Cameron, a former Turton School student who was known for playing football for Bromley Cross FC under 21s, had been diagnosed with the disease just six weeks before it claimed his life.

Speaking after the news broke Dave Norris, club vice-chairman and under-21s coach, said: “He was a Bromley Cross FC u21s Warrior, through and through.

“It was a shock to all his team mates and myself to receive the devastating news.

"Cameron was a young, respectful gentleman and a huge credit to himself, his parents, family, friends, team mates, the club and this community."

He had been described as fit and healthy before the disease struck.

His family were devastated and hope to raise as much awareness as possible about the little-known disease.

They have already raised over £18,000 for ulcerative colitis charities from members of the public, which will now be boosted with donations from Myles Cunliffe’s Lancashire based firm.

In honour of Cameron’s memory Mr Cunliffe has decided that the money the company donates will be split between UK charity Crohn’s and Colitis, which works to support people afflicted with both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and anti-poverty organisation Fareshare.

This comes after Get Me Car Finance Had already decided to donate to anti-poverty charities, having been inspired by footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign, an idea credited to director Shaun Gill.

Mr Gill, 56, said: “Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child poverty and to provide free meals in the holidays is very prominent at the moment, so we decided, as a business, we wanted to do our bit.

“The situation has escalated recently by the announcement that England would be going into a four-week lockdown, which could see more people relying on food banks.”

Mr Cunliffe hopes that helping the two causes can go hand in hand.

Mr Cunliffe said: “Whilst everyone is trying to stay positive in these crazy times, we as a business have tried to push forward and have come off the back of a good month in October.

“Shaun’s idea for the food bank donation was a great idea and I know it is a real concern for a lot of people in these uncertain times, so to try to help on that front is good.”

To find out more about Crohn’s and Colitis, go to: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/.

To donate to Cameron Duxbury’s fundraiser, go to: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/cameronduxbury.