Lee Johnson may be gone but he certainly isn’t forgotten.

The former Fulston Manor School pupil, of Pavilion Drive, Kemsley, was diagnosed in March last year with an inoperable growth on his brain stem the day before his 31st birthday.

He was given between 18 months to five years and underwent a gruelling course of radiotherapy which reduced the size of the tumour and allowed him to have surgery in January this year.

But he never recovered and remained at King’s College Hospital in London where he lost his battle against the tumour two months later.

In his memory, a group of his friends signed up for the Shine sponsored walk which was held on September 28 and started at Battersea power station in London.

In all it took them nine-and-a-half hours to complete the 26.2mile route. By doing so they managed to raised £3,097 for the Brain Tumour Research Centre - £921 more than their intended target.

Those who took part were Tom Stevens, 24, Gemma Chidgey, 27, Elliott Buckner, 24, Katy Palmer, 21, and Matt Pamplin, 24, all from the Sittingbourne area, as well as Lucy Wilkes, 24, from Sheerness, and Natalie Cowap, 28, from Dartford.

Tom said: “We were all going on training walks some exceeding 20 miles. But after blisters cramp and aching hips we all completed the walk and are very proud of our achievement.”

It’s not the first fundraising event held in memory of Lee. In August a memorial match was organised by Milstead Cricket Club, which he used to play for.

The day saw the team take on a group of his friends at the club’s grounds in Rawling Street. More than £1,300 was raised for the same charity. It’s hoped it will become an annual event.

A further £5,760 was raised by 19 of Lee’s friends after they completed The Three Peaks Challenge in September last year.

Tom added: “We just want to raise as much as possible.”

• To donate visit www.justgiving.com/teams/LeeJohnson1981