CRAIG Wragg knew he could rely on his family and friends to get him through when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2007.
And no one more so than his girlfriend Deborah Porter who took him to hospital daily for treatment.
But in a cruel twist of fate in the middle of his treatment Deborah, 42, was tragically killed in a car accident in December.
Craig, 40, now of Westgate, Penistone, who lived with Deborah in Thurgoland, was forced to give up work as an electrician to undergo an operation to remove the tumour.
As well as looking after Craig, Debbie, as she was known to friends, had begun fund raising for Macmillan Nurses after the help he received during his illness.
Friends and neighbours rallied round and the landlady of the Horse and Jockey, Glynis Heathcote. took over organising the fund raiser after her death.
They held a mammoth fund raising event in February in memory of his girlfriend and Macmillan Nurses.
Glynis said: "We have only been here a year but in that time we got to know Craig and Debbie quite well. He is such a lovely man who would do anything for anyone and we were pleased to do hold this day for him and in Debbie's memory."
A 12 hour event was held in the pub raising over £3,000 through sponsored chest waxes, head shaves, auctions, raffles and a sponsored slim.
Father of three Craig said: "Debbie really looked after me when I was ill and would have wanted us to carry on raising the money.
"It was a great day, I wish Debbie had been here to see it. What my friends did for me was brilliant, I am really grateful to them and to Macmillan for their support."
In a poignant letter to the pub Debbie's parents Ann and Gerry said 'thank you 'to everyone in the village for what they had done.
Glynis plans to keep raising funds and in the summer the men of the village are to strip for a calendar.
"There is still a real community spirit here and the pub is the focal point. He has so many friends and everyone pulled out all the stops to turn something negative into a positive. We still have Craig and he is getting on with his life, something good has come out of it at last," Glynis added.
