TATA Chemicals Europe employee Dave Flood had a major clear-out to help raise more than £700 for a charity close to his heart.

Dave’s niece Sophia Flood was diagnosed with Cockayne syndrome, a rare degenerative disorder, last year, and has been given a life expectancy of about 12 years of age.

Dave, from Castle, is taking part in Hell Up North, 13 miles of trail running at Delamere Forest Park, to raise money for Amy and Friends, which supports children with Cockayne syndrome.

Hell Up North takes place on Saturday, October 17, and Dave has already beaten his £1,500 target by raising £1,611 via an online donations page from 111 donations.

He has received a further £200 in offline donations, and the total received an additional boost from a car boot sale at Tata on Sunday.

Dave and his mum Mary were among dozens of people who sold their unwanted items, and the sale raised £705.

The car boot sale was held in the car park of Natrium House on Winnington Lane, and featured a tombola and home-made cake stalls.

Staff from the company gave up their Sunday morning to help to steward the event, which saw 34 cars arrive to sell items.

“It’s always great to see people having fun while raising money for an excellent cause,” said Tata communications manager Richard Redman.

“Members of staff chipped in by volunteering on the day, baking cakes for the cake stall and donating prizes for the hugely successful tombola.

“We would like to thank the Northwich Guardian and Northwich Town Council, who helped us get the word out.”

Cars selling raised £175, £364 came from the tombola and cake sales and £166 from people coming to buy and bucket collections.

Dave works at Tata’s Lostock site, and will be running in Hell Up North with Andrew Maddock, from Lostock, who works at the same site.

Hell Up North is regarded as the toughest half-marathon in the UK, and consists of tracks and trails, water-filled areas and steep hills.

Anyone who would like to support Dave’s fundraising can visit justgiving.com/David-Flood4.