£1000 to help teenage cancer trust

£1,000 to Teenager Cancer Trust in memory of forklift driver's stepson

The donation is a contribution to wider fundraising efforts by Arron King's family and friends in aid of the charity

The Bristol division of leading housebuilder Barratt Homes has made a £1,000 donation to charity Teenage Cancer Trust after one of its construction team sadly lost his stepson, Arron King, to cancer.

The donation is a contribution to the wider fundraising efforts of Arron's family and friends who have already raised thousands of pounds for the charity through a 120-mile bike ride, sky dive and quiz night. Arron, from Nailsea, who was a budding DJ, was just 19 years old when he died in February this year after being diagnosed with an incurable sarcoma cancer.

More than 2,000 young people aged 13-24 are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year. In Bristol, Teenage Cancer Trust funds four expert staff at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre who make sure the best possible care is given so patients are treated as young people first, cancer patients second.

James Sims, a forklift driver for Barratt Homes, who works on their Filwood Park development in Bristol, said: "We are incredibly grateful for Barratt Homes' donation to Teenage Cancer Trust. The team were an amazing support to us, and we would urge others to support them too if they can as they make a huge difference to the lives of young people and their families."

Arron's mum and James' partner, Jayne King, said: "It makes me so proud to know how much Arron was loved. We have been overwhelmed by all the messages of condolence including Nailsea School staff; even teachers who have since left have been in touch."

Tracy Burns, relationship manager South West and Wales for Teenage Cancer Trust, said:

"Cancer is tough, but Teenage Cancer Trust's work puts young people in the best possible place, physically, mentally and emotionally, for their cancer treatment. We fund expert nurses, support teams, and hospital units and we're the only UK charity dedicated to providing this specialised nursing. We're completely dependent on donations for all of this work, which is why we're so very grateful to receive this donation by Barratt Homes' Bristol division. A huge and heartfelt thank you from everyone at Teenage Cancer Trust."

Together with its sister company David Wilson Homes, Barratt Homes donates £3,000 every month to local causes in the South West as part of the company's commitment to supporting the communities where they are building new homes. Barratt Homes is delivering much-needed new homes at nearby Ladden Garden Village, in North Yate, and at Blackberry Park in Coalpit Health, and was behind the creation of the new community at Filwood Park, Bristol.

Andrea Pilgrim, sales director at Barratt Bristol, which covers the wider Bristol area, says: "It's important to us to support communities near to where we are building homes, as well as wider charitable causes, helping to make a positive difference to people's lives. This is a cause that is very close to our hearts due to the experiences of one of our team and it is also a charity that has an enormous impact on the lives of young people in Bristol every day." Barratt Bristol recently handed over nearly £27,000 to the UK's leading dementia research charity, Alzheimer's Research UK, its charity of the year. Recent support included donations to local foodbanks which experienced unprecedented demand due to lockdown and the Covid pandemic.

To support the fundraising drive of Arron's family and friends, go to their Just Giving page here.

Vegan one-pot pasta

Have a go at making your own vegetable stock, then use it to make this easy vegan one-pot pasta

Ingredients Method

1 aubergine 1 carrot 2 red peppers 1 red onion 2 garlic cloves 6 peppercorns 1 dried bay leaf 3 tbsp Olive oil 250g Penne pasta 400g Can chopped tomatoes 50g Raisins 1 tbsp drained jarred capers, chopped Parsley, chopped Cube the aubergine and carrot, slice the red peppers, finely chop the red onion and crush the garlic cloves

Place the discarded trimmings, seeds, outer leaves and stalks into a pan, along with 1.25 litres water, the peppercorns and dried bay leaf

Bring to a simmer and cook for 35 mins, then strain and discard the trimmings

Heat 1½ tbsp olive oil in a large pan and cook the aubergine and pepper over a high heat for 5-10 mins, until golden

Remove and set aside. Heat another 1½ tbsp olive oil, then cook the carrot, onion and garlic for 5 mins, over a low heat, until softened

Add the penne pasta, the stock and chopped tomatoes, then bring to the boil.

Reduce to a simmer, add the aubergine, pepper, raisins and capers, then cook, covered, for 12 mins

Cook uncovered for 3-4 mins, until the liquid is reduced and the pasta is al dente (cooked, but slightly firm)

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