Thousands of pounds were raised as a group of friends took to the water in memory of a shop assistant who died last month aged just 23.

As reported in the Norwich Evening News, Russian-born Olga Demina, who had just received her British citizenship, was diagnosed with cervical cancer last summer. She had bravely battled the disease but in March was given the devastating news that it had spread to her liver.

The Superdry store worker, who lived in Spencer Road, near Fifers Lane, and had lived in Norwich for five years, lost her fight on August 11.

On Saturday, her friends, family and colleagues took part in a charity kayak paddle in her memory and to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The group of eight, which included her boyfriend Aaron Cooper and step-dad Mike Huggins, set off from Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, at 7am.

They each paddled 28 miles to Norwich and were welcomed by up to 40 people when they arrived at Norwich Playhouse in the evening. The group has raised about �4,000 for the charity which supported Miss Demina through her illness.

Mr Huggins, who married Miss Demina's mum, also called Olga, in 2006, said he was overwhelmed by the support. He said: 'The wind and the tide were against us but we battled on. I thought of my stepdaughter most of the way through and kept thinking I'm doing this for her. She would've been proud of us.'

Miss Demina's boyfriend Mr Cooper, 23, added: 'The support was incredible. We all lined up in the water on the final corner knowing people were waiting for us but I didn't expect the reception we received.

'The amount of money we received is amazing.

'It was a difficult day for everybody and me falling in after 12 miles wasn't a great part of the day but we all powered on and did ourselves, and more importantly Olga, proud.'

To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/theoggieoggiekayak/new/1