FAMILY of British Superbike rider Ollie Bridewell, who died after a training crash aged just 21, have been overwhelmed by the support for an auction which has raised £10,000 in his memory for Cancer Research.

Mr Bridewell's family are marking the tenth anniversary of his death with a series of fundraising events which will include his sister Charlotte, 32, running the London Marathon.

On Saturday nearly 200 people gathered at Lowden Garden Centre at Shaw, near Melksham for a dinner and auction of lots which included a number with a motorcycle theme.

Miss Bridewell from Chirton, near Devizes, said: "It was an amazing evening. We were all just overwhelmed by the support and the amount raised was incredible."

Mr Bridewell, who grew up in Etchilhampton, near Devizes where his family run a garage, died in July, 2007 but on Saturday evening memories of the talented rider were still fresh in everyone's minds.

Hairdresser Miss Bridwell said: "The evening was full of memories of Ollie, not in a maudlin way, but of the happy times. He would have been very proud and pleased about the amount raised."

Her other brother Tommy, 27, who is also a British Superbike rider, returned in time from training in Italy, to help organise the auction of promises along with his wife Stacey, mum Liz and dad Marcus.

Miss Bridewell is stepping up her training ready for the London Marathon on April 23 and hopes her efforts will increase the total for Cancer Research to £15,000.

The mum of two has joined Devizes Running Club and is hoping to run 18 miles in training this weekend. She said: "It is going well. I am enjoying it and feeling good but it has been a lot to fit everything in with organising the auction, looking after the children and running."

She is supported by her partner Dom Friend and children Freddie, five and Maci, six and hopes to run the marathon in under four hours. Sponsor forms are available at Miss Bridewell's hairdressing salon Diffusion in Sidmouth Street, Devizes.