A LONG-serving landlady is preparing for her retirement by raising money for the hospice where her son spent his final days.

Carol Brown’s son Jason died in St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham City, on September 15 last year aged 41, just two months after being diagnosed with tumours in his stomach.

The late father-of-two, a lorry driver from Brandon, near Durham, had a wife, Victoria, and children Molly, ten, and George, seven.

Now Mrs Brown, who has worked behind the bar at The Colpitts, in Durham, since January 1973 and run the pub since 1997, is preparing for a final fundraising effort for the hospice before she retires later this year, aged 66.

Regulars at The Colpitts have already raised £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through a variety of fundraising efforts led by Mrs Brown and her husband, Tom.

Now more than 40 of Jason Brown’s friends and relatives, plus some Colpitts’ regulars, intend to cycle from Broompark, near Durham, to Consett in aid of the hospice.

Among those planning to take part are Mr Brown’s children.

His mother, who still struggles to talk about her only son, said: “I am due to retire from The Colpitts later this year and wanted one last big fundraising effort for St Cuthbert’s.

“Jason spent his final days there and nothing was too much bother for the staff.

“We are raising money because of the care and attention given to Jason and our entire family.

“The customers in the pub have been marvellous and also at Durham City Rugby Club where my grandson George plays for the under eights.”

The cycle, planned for Saturday, February 7, will end at Consett Rugby Club, where the exhausted cyclists will watch Consett play Durham City.

Speaking about her son, Mrs Brown added: “I am very proud of him.

“He idolised his family, he was a loveable son who was fit and healthy until he suddenly started complaining of stomach pains.

“Massive tumours were diagnosed and within two months he was no longer with us.”

Help is needed transporting bikes back from Consett to Durham. To get involved, call 0191-386-9913.

Mrs Brown pulled her first pint at The Colpitts while eight-and-a-half months pregnant, after a barmaid failed to turn up for work – thereby doing a favour for her aunt Irene Spencer, the landlady for 42 years until 1997.