A YOUNG Brockmoor cancer sufferer has been hailed as inspirational after smashing a fundraising target to save a Brierley Hill based charity from possible closure.

Kelly Mullings, aged 23, has been compared to national hero Stephen Sutton after she mirrored his achievements by demolishing initial expectations for raising charity cash.

She held a fund raising event in Stourbridge in April and hoped to raise around £2,000 but instead scooped £6,000 for the Paul Ackrill Fund which supports people under-30 diagnosed with cancer.

Overwhelmed Gill Ackrill, who started the charity in memory of her son, said: "I was actually thinking of closing the charity. When I first started I had a great deal of money coming in, but that has started to dry up in recent times.

"We used to donate £500 to each sufferer but we've had to reduce that payment to £300. The charity has been living from year to year recently.

“She has been an absolute inspiration and I can't thank her enough, Since starting the charity in 2002, as far as I'm concerned, she's on a par with Stephen Sutton - if not better.”

The fund makes donations to cancer patients to ease the financial burden of day-to-day expenses while they are fighting the disease and has paid out close to £150,000.

Kelly, a PE student at Birmingham University, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma late last year and is currently undergoing treatment.

She receives a payment from the fund but decided to give something back by organising the fundraising a fundraiser which included people taking part in a number of sponsored events with the aim of raising cash and awareness of the charity.

Gill Ackrill added: “People sometimes don't realise just how much cancer can change your life. People suffering with cancer shouldn't have to worry about money, they've got enough on their plate.

“That's why I can't express my thanks enough to Kelly. She worked so hard to organise the day despite having to undergo chemotherapy and suffering from other infections as well.

Anyone who would like to help support the charity should email ackrillgill@hotmail.com