FRIENDS and relatives of a popular young musician who died of cancer have already raised more than £15,000 in his memory.

Joe Gilligan, aged 20, lost his fight for life last September after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He had endured surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Following his death, Joe's parents Craig and Alyson, from Meir Park, set up a trust fund to help improve support for other young adults facing cancer locally.

And last night, Stoke Youth Musical Theatre Company presented the latest cheque to the fund.

It was for £1,142, with most of this money raised through a collection at their recent production of Godspell.

The cheque was handed over at the Seabridge Centre, in Newcastle, where young performers were rehearsing for their latest show, Sweeney Todd, which will be staged in the autumn.

Joe, who lived in Cheddleton, had played drums in Stoke Youth's shows and also knew many of the group members, including those who attended his old school, St Joseph's College, in Trent Vale.

Close friend Charlotte Williamson is a vocal coach for the theatre company and suggested they hold the collection. The 21-year-old, from Trentham, said: "I wanted all of us to do something in memory of him. I'm sure he would have been very proud. And I'm sure he would have also had some comedy line to put to it."

Theatre company chairman Paul Hassall added: "The fund-raising was completely instigated by the young people.

"Two or three of them were very close to Joe and spent a lot of time with him in the last few months of his life. They wanted to show their appreciation."

Joe also played drums for the Stoke-on-Trent band The Clock The Storm and was well-known in local music circles.

He was diagnosed with the malignant tumour in March 2008 and had to receive treatment in Birmingham because there was nowhere in North Staffordshire to cater for people of his age with his type of cancer.

Mr Gilligan, aged 47, who is a music teacher at St Joseph's, said: "There is plenty of help in the area for young children with cancer. But there is a gap for 16 to 25-year-olds.

"Our long-term plan is to try to get something set up for this age group in Stoke-on-Trent."

Joe's family have been talking to both the Douglas Macmillan Hospice and the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust as part of their efforts to support more families going through similar experiences.

They first started raising money shortly before his death and set up the trust fund a few months ago. To date, more than £15,000 has been donated. More events are planned.