THEIR world fell apart when their father suffered a massive brain haemorrhage in January.

But today these youngsters are celebrating after raising a staggering £3,362 - some of which will be used to set up a York branch of the charity that helped him.

Julia and Andrew Seager, aged 12 and ten respectively, of Bishopthorpe, near York, organised a sponsored walk in May, as a way of thanking the medical staff who helped put their dad on the road to recovery.

Mark Seager, who is a lecturer at the College of Law, in York, is now at Thistle Hill Care Home, in Knaresborough, undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

Andrew, who is a pupil at Archbishop of York's Junior School, in Bishopthorpe, said: "Dad is getting a bit better now and he is really proud of what we did.

"I'm very happy with how much we raised from the walk and I never thought so many people would take part."

Mum Amanda said some of the funds would be donated to Headway, a charity that supports people with a brain injury and their carers.

She said: "Headway is currently setting up a new branch of the charity in York, and the money Julia and Andrew have raised will be used to help set this up.

"We'd like to say a big thank-you to everyone who donated so generously."

The rest of the money will be split between the three specialist units which have been looking after Mark - Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds, York Hospital's stroke rehabilitation ward, and the neurological high-dependency unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

As previously reported in The Press, nearly 100 pupils Archbishop of York's Junior School joined staff from the College of Law for the three-mile sponsored walk.

The children walked from their school to the college, where they were joined by staff. They then walked together along the cycle path, back to Bishopthorpe.

Paul Aber, regional director at the College of Law, said they had been shocked that a fit man like Mark had been struck by a brain haemorrhage.

He said: "We were very keen to offer support to the organisations that do such wonderful work." Brain haemorrhages strike with little or no warning, and prove fatal within hours for as many as 30 per cent of sufferers.