AN Oxford hospice has been given £12,500 - collected by an Oxford solicitor who was killed while raising it.

Paul McGowran set off in 1991 to circle the globe on a motorbike in an attempt to raise money for Sir Michael Sobell House in Oxford and two other charities.

His quest ended in tragedy in April last year, when his bike was in a collision with a bus in Indonesia.

Paul, 34, formerly of Sunningwell Road, Oxford, died in the crash, leaving his Thai wife Chutima, who he had met and married on the trek.

His death meant there was a delay in collecting the money, totalling £50,000, as it became more difficult to trace all the sponsors without his knowledge.

But the late solicitor's family, who live in north Wales, eventually collected most of it and donated the shortfall themselves.

John Hewitt, chairman of trustees at Sir Michael Sobell House in Headington, said: "It is very nice to receive this money, but we were so sad about Paul's death.

"We need £600,000 a year to cover running costs, and this money will go towards that."

A further £12,500 went to a hospice in north Wales, and £25,000 was given to the Cancer Research Campaign.

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