STAFF and students at a Plymouth school have raised hundreds of pounds for charity in memory of a popular technician who died this year.

Pete Chappell died in February at the age of 63, just eight months after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Mr Chappell was an IT technician at John Kitto Community College. The school has presented two cheques in his memory, totalling £610, to his widow Moira Chappell, to support two charities – the Motor Neurone Disease Association and St Luke's Hospice.

Mrs Chappell, 61, said she was "totally overwhelmed" by the gesture.

She said: "He was just the most wonderful man, and very very brave."

She said her husband, who was formerly in the RAF, had been very happy working at John Kitto.

Mal Nash, vice principal at the college, said: "Pete was a real gentleman and a very well liked colleague. He was very patient and always positive – an excellent role model to the students, so obviously when he died in these tragic circumstances it was a great loss to the college.

"For a lot of us it was the first time we had come across Motor Neurone Disease, and it's a horrible illness. Both staff and students gave generously."

Mr Chappell was originally from Plymouth but had lived in Ivybridge for the last 25 years. He had been married for 39 years and had two daughters.

Mrs Chappell said she hoped more people would become aware of Motor Neurone Disease, which she described as "horrendous."

She said it affects each sufferer in different ways. After he was diagnosed, it had been thought that Mr Chappell would live for longer.

Mrs Chappell said: "It was such a shock when he went after eight months."

She said her husband had been apprehensive about going to St Luke's, thinking that a hospice would be depressing, but after spending 24 hours there "he thought it was wonderful".

Mr Chappell spent several days at St Luke's, but eventually died at home on February 1, with his wife and daughters close by.

His daughter Karen is now raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association by running the Reading Half Marathon in March and the Plymouth Half Marathon in May.

donations can be made through her http://www.justgiving.com/karenchappell2 website.