A Mansfield mum who runs a charity shop in the town centre has said she is trying to "keep her son's memory alive" two years on after he died from brain cancer.

Sandra Marshall, 67, established 'Jack of all hearts brain cancer fundraising shop' in Handley Arcade on Toothill Lane, Mansfield, just a few months before her son - Jack Sanders - passed away in July 2018 as a result of glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer.

It is a rare fast-growing form of brain cancer that 35-year-old Jack suffered with for six years.

Now Sandra tries to help other sufferers through the shop to make him "proud" and help others through their battles with a similar brain cancer.

The shop sells clothing such as wedding and prom gowns, shoes, and 'Nemesis Now' alternative giftware - a brand of gothic and steampunk gifts that includes dragons, "fairies" and wolves.

Jack Sanders pictured with his daughter Ellie who is now 12

All profits from the shop are then donated to helping other brain cancer sufferers by methods that include accessing treatment that is often abroad or giving them one final holiday.

Sandra, who has lived in Mansfield all her life, said: "Every single penny that we make in profit, we give directly to people with brain cancer. We find lots of people through Facebook, fundraisers, and by them coming into the shop here.

"We don't take anything for ourselves, just to buy a gas bottle to heat the shop. We don't even have hot water.

"We rarely give more than £250 each time because we can't afford to.

Sandra Marshall, who runs 'Jack of all hearts brain cancer fundraising shop' in Mansfield

"I can't do anymore for him so maybe if I can do it for others it makes me feel like it's not giving up."

The charity shop has helped at least 50 people with funding for cases including those needing treatment in Germany and families wanting one last trip to Disney Land.

When Jack was first diagnosed in 2012, his illness was less severe, then two years later it returned.

Sandra added: "When Jack passed away in 2018, I did not come to the shop for months.

Handley Arcade, Mansfield

"It's so rapid and horrible how it affects someone. Those six years were so hard.

"He was wonderful and a great dad."

Jack's daughter is 12-year-old Ellie, who Sandra says he "worshipped."

For his funeral in 2018, Jack - who was 6ft 8" and loved watching Only Fools and Horses - had a yellow Reliant Robin three wheeler at his funeral car.

Sandra said: "Watching what he went through and how positive he was makes me think I can give some of those other people who have brain cancer some help.

Clothing on sale at 'Jack of all hearts brain cancer fundraising shop' in Mansfield

"I know that would make Jack proud and that's what keeps me going."

Shop assistant Chris, who Sandra says has been with her “since day one”, also works at the charity shop.

Chris Kenzie, 68, from Mansfield said: “I met her in a Morrison’s when she was doing a bag-pack for Jack. I started helping her and we haven’t stopped since.

“Sandra couldn’t have done more to help Jack. She tried absolutely everything and is now trying to help others with similar cancers.

Chris Kenzie and Sandra Marshall both work at the charity shop

“I help organise the shop, donations and even help the customers who come in.”

Sandra's uncle used to own the arcade and rented the shop to her for free before new ownership came in.

It means she now must pay more than £500-a-month to keep her store in Handley Arcade.

She added: "We need people to keep donating and buying so we can keep going. I want to keep Jack's memory alive through the shop and by helping other people.

Some 'Nemesis Now' products in the charity shop

“I want this shop to be busy in a couple of years and for it to be known that people with brain cancer can come here for help - even if it’s only to talk."

If you have any items of clothing or shoes that could be donated to Jack of all hearts brain cancer fundraising shop, visit their Facebook page to get in touch with Sandra.

A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK said: "Glioblastomas (GBM) are a rare type of fast growing brain tumour.

"Symptoms can depend on where the tumour is in the brain, and what that part of the brain usually controls. Common symptoms can include seizures (fits), feeling sick and headaches, but feeling sick and having headaches have lots of other causes.

When possible, surgery is the main treatment for glioblastoma and patients might also have radiotherapy, which uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.

"At the same time as radiotherapy, patients might also be given a chemotherapy drug called temozolomide, which would continue for several months."