THE family of a cancer-suffering teenager who died from an infection after undergoing a 10-hour double lung transplant have launched a charity in her memory.

Hayley’s Hugs was set up this year after Padiham 17-year-old Hayley Barker, a former pupil of St John the Baptist RC School, died last August.

And mum Lisa Barker, its founder, was delighted when she was handed a generous donation of gifts and cash from the Blackburn and Accrington branches of the Skipton Building Society. The charity collects presents for Ward 84 at Manchester Children’s Hospital, where Hayley was treated.

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But due to the huge number of presents received, they will also hand out gifts in the children’s ward at Royal Blackburn Hospital tomorrow.

Lisa, of Dryden Street, who launched the charity with husband Garry, said: “After Hayley passed away we asked for donations to give to the hospital. That was the first thing we did and then we decided that is what we wanted to do every year.”.

“So we launched the charity and the support has been overwhelming.”

Hayley, who managed to beat leukaemia twice, suffered from bronchiolitis obliterans, which made it difficult for her to breathe, and underwent her transplant.

However, she developed an infection and just a fortnight later passed away.

Last week, Lisa was given a cheque for £837 by the building society and a huge pile of gifts donated by customers and the company’s head office.

Branch manager Sharon McEwan said: “We wanted to raise money for charity and one of our colleagues found Hayley’s Hugs on the internet.

“We have been raising money and collecting presents since December 1 and the end result had been incredible.”

Mrs Barker, of Dryden Street, added: “We wanted to give something back. That is what Hayley wanted.

“She always said when she was better she wanted to do this.

“I think she would be absolutely overwhelmed with all that we have done”Doing this has helped me carry on from day to day.””And it has been great for all the family as we have all been involved, especially Leah who has done a lot of fundraising herself.”