A CHARITY evening has taken place to remember two best friends from Workington and support charities close to their families' hearts.
On Saturday, October 14 a charity night organised by the friends and families of Nicholas Degraff and Michael Jenkins took place in the Workington Railway Club.
The night raised £2,000 for the RNLI lifeboats and preventing knife crime in Cumbria, with the evening also allowing the pairs' friends and families to come together and remember them in a 'positive way'.
Michael Jenkins died aged 24 on Sunday, June 4. Police Scotland confirmed that he was found with serious injuries in the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
He was pronounced dead in the town's Watermill Road after police were called to reports of a disturbance at around 6pm. A teen has since appeared in court accused of his murder.
Michael was the best friend of Nicholas Degraff, whose body was found in the water at Workington Port on January 21, 2022, after going missing on December 12, 2021 from Great Clifton.
The families of Michael and Nicholas have thanked the many people who attended the evening, provided raffle prizes and donated for their kindness they say they 'couldn't have done' the evening without.
Since Michael's death his family have been reunited with his sister Scarlett, who attended the evening. The family say they are delighted and know 'he will be looking down on them so pleased' after he had been hoping to reunite with Scarlett following a period of separation, due to circumstances the pair could not control.
Michael's sister, Rachel Porter said: "The night was fantastic, everyone talked about the lads and reminisced, family and friends attended.
"In total we raised £2,000. £1,000 will go to the RNLI lifeboats and £1,000 will go towards preventing knife crime in Cumbria.
"We wanted to make it a night that the lads were remembered but in a positive way, as I know they’d hate everyone to be sad. We laughed, we cried and we raised lots of money in their memory.
"We are all so chuffed and we are so thankful and grateful for every single donation, ticket purchased, and every single person who came. We couldn’t have done it without the kindness of others."
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