A mum is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for a Dereham-based charity in memory of her brother who lost his six-year battle with cancer at the age of 35.

Lee Parker, of Toftwood, was first diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was 29.

He spent the next six years undergoing operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but there was nothing more the medics could do to save his life and he died on April 7.

His younger sister Zoe Ryder said her brother's death has left a 'great hole' in their family's lives.

In his honour, she is now organising a charity dance in aid of Dereham Cancer Care.

Married mum-of-one Mrs Ryder, who is the office manager at estate agency Parsons and Co in Dereham, has organised the fundraiser with her work colleagues.

She said: 'Lee was so strong and he was so adamant the cancer wouldn't get him and carried on his life as normal.

'He was very defiant and he was always there and was always smiling and laughing - he always had the biggest grin on his face.'

The charity dance will be held at Swanton Morley Village Hall on Friday, June 12 and will see the popular Lee Vasey Band perform.

If the fundraising total exceeds £1,000, it will be matched by Dereham's branch of Barclays Bank.

Mrs Ryder said they chose to raise funds for Dereham Cancer Care after seeing first hand the support they gave to her brother and have given to her mum Christine.

The 33-year-old, who is married to Matthew and has daughter Saffire, said: 'As an office, we have always done the Race for Life and have supported Macmillan coffee mornings and we wanted to do something a bit different.

'Dereham Cancer Care is a really good cause and is need of funds to provide support for people not only like Lee but also their families who are left behind afterwards.

'It's a local charity and you can see locally where it's helping people. It's a fantastic cause to give money to.'

Tickets for the dance cost £15 including a hog roast. They can be bought at Parsons and Co on Quebec Street or from Dereham Cancer Care.

Are you helping to raise money in memory of a loved one? Email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk