Fund in memory of Sparshatts Truck and Van boss David Jones raises thousands

A tribute page set up in memory of Mercedes-Benz dealer David Jones has so far raised nearly £4,500 to fund research into blood cancer.

The UK commercial vehicle retail industry lost one of its most popular and respected figures in August when Jones, the co-founder and chief executive of Kent-based Sparshatts Truck and Van, died following a long battle with blood cancer.

Sparshatts was a founding member of the Mercedes-Benz dealer network. Jones and his business partner Roger Sparshatt - who retired in 2000 - began trading in 1975, and ended their first year with nine employees, having sold 30 vehicles and lost £9,000.

Today, more than 200 people work for a company that registered nearly 1,500 new and used vehicles last year, and posted a turnover of £88m.

The Jones family have set up a donations page for Bloodwise - formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research - to help fund research and improve the lives of patients.