ALMOST £90,000 has been donated to two charities in memory of a mother who died from a rare form of cancer.

The Cure4Charley fundraising campaign was set up to help cover the cost of pioneering treatment for Charley Ashton from Hove.

The 35-year-old had a rare and aggressive sarcoma and chemotherapy proved unsuccessful so friends and family rallied round to find the money to cover the cost of potential immunotherapy.

She had hoped the treatment would help her spend more time with her daughter Aurelia, two, and her wife Jess.

However her condition deteriorated and she passed away earlier this year before all the money raised could.

Jess and the campaign organisers have been looking at what charities should benefit from a donation and have chosen to give Sarcoma UK £60,000 and The Martlets hospice in Hove just under £28,000.

Charley suffered from a form of sarcoma called inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.

Sarcoma UK funds ground-breaking research with the aim of finding a cure for the cancer.

It also provide vital support to help people cope with the devastating effects of sarcoma and the problems they face with trying to find treatments in an area where very little research has been carried out.

In a statement on the Cure4Charley blog, Jess said: “Charley’s Fund will look at heavily supporting the research element but may also help to fund the support network for families dealing with the disease.”

The £27,725 allocated to The Martlets will go specifically towards its hospice at home service, which provided care and support for Charley and her family for the last two years.

The hospice has also provided bereavement support for Jess following Charley’s death.

Jess said: “Martlets are a charity entirely dependent on donations from the general public and it is hard for me to believe that without the kindness of others having funded Martlets over the years, then we would not have had their support through such a difficult and heartbreaking time.

“Charley had a spell in the hospice but it was not for her. “However, they then put us in touch with the hospice at home team who provide expert end-of-life care at home which is where Charley wanted to be.

“If you’ve chosen to receive end-of-life care at home it can be a terribly sad and daunting prospect, questioning whether you will be in pain or struggle with symptom control.

“The hospice at home team, however, were always available to visit, providing high-level nursing care, probably similar to that you would find on the ward but at home.

“This meant we could be together and gave Charley the opportunity to spend the most time possible with Aurelia.

“It really warms my heart to be able to give back to such an important charity who really do make a huge difference to the lives of those who need the most help.

“It will not bring back my wonderful wife but if we can help others to have the same support we did in the darkest of times then that really is a gift indeed.

“It is only thanks to you all and all of your hard work that we are able to give back in such a generous way.”