Jason Manford helps Stephen’s appeal top £1million

Jason Manford has helped a teenager with terminal cancer raise over £1 million for charity.

Stephen Sutton of Burntwood, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010, aged 15.

When the tumour returned a year later, and doctors told him it was terminal, he drew up a bucket list, which included hugging an elephant, playing the drums in front of 90,000 people at a Wembley, and raising £1m for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The fundraising drive was heavily promoted by Jason Manford, who has now pledged to donate the proceeds from the Manford’s Comedy Club shows during the next month.

Donations to Stephen’s JustGiving page came in at over £25k an hour this morning before hitting the £1million mark just after 11am.

In what is expected to be the final Facebook post written by himself, Stephen said: “It’s a shame the end has come so suddenly – there’s so many people I haven’t got round to properly thank or say goodbye to. Apologies for that.”

The post was accompanied by a photograph of Stephen on his bed giving a thumbs up.

Manford said that Stephen is an “absolute credit to humanity.” The Salford-born comic, who has pledged to continue to raise money for the fund, confirmed that Stephen is aware of the achievement.

You can donate via Stephen’s JustGiving page.