More than £7,000 had been raised for a journalism bursary thanks to a large donation from a former regional journalist.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists has smashed its bid to raise £4,000 for the Thomas Read bursary, which is awarded each year through the Journalism Diversity Fund to aspiring journalists with disabilities or long-term physical or mental health problems.

The NCTJ was aiming to raise £4,000 for the cause with a sponsored walk earlier this month, and had encouraged journalists to conduct their own fundraising activities to coincide with it.

But a total of more than £7,200 was raised, boosted by a £5,000 contributed by Mark Allen, who trained with the NCTJ on Sheffield daily The Star.

NCTJ staff and supporters on their sponsored walk

Mark now runs his own publisher, the Mark Allen Group.

Following the walk, the NCTJ held a lunch for staff and supporters as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations.

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said: “The NCTJ has become one of the most important media industry charities operating across the UK and we are marking our 70th anniversary in a number of different ways.

“A celebration in our local area that raises funds for such a great cause and involves the special friends of the charity has been a particular highlight.

“We really enjoy fundraising with Thomas Read’s wonderful family and it is a cause that has become very dear to us not least because it has helped its recipients overcome adversity to train and develop their journalism careers.

“Successful bursary recipients are now working across the media – including at Sky, BBC, and ITV – and it makes a real difference to people’s lives.”