Family and friends rally for Charlie

Charlie is pictured (right) with his partner Louise Howard, alongside family and friends at the fun day.

CARING family, friends and supporters raised funds for a Holts skin-cancer sufferer who wants to marry his beloved fiancee before he dies.

Terminally-ill Charlie Jones and his partner Louise Howard received vital support at a family fun day at Clough Manor, Denshaw. Brave Charlie made national headlines after becoming the first skin-cancer sufferer to test a new drug, Vemurafenib, designed to improve the life of those with the disease.

Despite the medication making Charlie (24) feel better, it is not a cure. Oldham businesses and locals provided auction prizes — including a football shirt signed by Diego Maradona — for the charity day, which also included entertainment and a bouncy castle. Charlie’s older brother, Gareth (26), said: “We just want to give him chances to have fun for the rest of his life in the short time he’s got left.”