A popular Carlisle fundraiser will be remembered at a special service next month.

David Hetherington, who grew up in Lowry Hill raised thousands of pounds for charity by taking on a range of endurance challenges including marathons and hikes.

The father-of-two, who moved to London after securing a job with HSBC, died from a malignant brain tumour in November. His parents John and Judith, who still reside in Carlisle, have been left overwhelmed by the messages they have received.

A special service will be held in his honour on February 11.

“We’ve had about 190 sympathy cards,” Judith told the News & Star. “David was such a popular person and was well-liked by everyone.”

David, a former pupil at Austin Friars School, ran both the New York and London Marathons for charity and also completed the Caledonian Challenge and Hike.

The father-of-two, who was a keen footballer, had been diagnosed with a non-malignant tumour in November 2011. However, two years later he was told that the tumour had come back - and was malignant.

“He didn’t think much of it at first,” Judith added. “The first time he was diagnosed, he had some problems with his speech, but things began to get worse. He saw a GP who said it was stress-related and then he saw a neurologist. Then a scan showed there was a non-malignant, slow-growing tumour.”

But David’s illness did not stop his fundraising efforts.

In 2015 he completed Stand Up To Cancer’s Three Peaks Challenge - climbing to the top of the Gherkin, Salesforce Tower and 200 Aldersgate - three of London’s tallest buildings.

“He would go up the stairs every day, he worked on the 43rd floor,” John said. “That was his training for it. He did it with his friends from university. We’re so proud of what he achieved.

David also converted to Islam after meeting his wife, Shahanaz. The couple have two children, Layla and Daniel.

“Muslims are very charitable people and David was as well,” John added.

“There was a homeless person he saw near the tube station everyday. Every day he’d buy him a coffee. That’s the sort of person he was.”

A memorial service for David will be held at Brampton Methodist Church at 3pm on February 11.