THE family of a Basingstoke man who died of cancer shortly after appearing on TV said they had been overwhelmed by the number of events in memory of him.

Hundreds of people were touched by 37-year-old Spencer Uren’s story after watching him earlier this year on Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me trying to win the prize money for his sister Sorelle, 27, who had cancer.

But at the end of the programme it was revealed that Spencer, of Hackwood Road, had died just a few months after filming on May 31 last year.

Come Dine for Spencer was set up in his memory by the other contestants, so far raising £15,000 for the cancer ward at Basingstoke Hospital.

Sorelle has now been given the all-clear from Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer, but her mum Nona, from Bounty Road, Basingstoke, said although the good news had been a blessing for the family, the anniversary of Spencer’s death had been tough.

She added: “You don’t expect your child to go before you and our life will never be the same. You just have to learn to live a different life.”

Since the charity was set up earlier this year hundreds of people have donated money and events have taken place across the town.

Stand-up comedians Dave Thompson and Paddy Lennox took to the stage at Central Studio at Queen Mary’s College raising £400 for the charity.

Gill Buley, a contestant, whose idea it was to set up the charity, said: “It was sad that Spencer couldn’t be there with us, but we felt comfort knowing we were helping to raise money for a cause he would have wanted to support.”

Mrs Uren added: “It’s been overwhelming.”

For more information about the charity visit comedineforspencer.co.uk.