A celebration of life will be held on Thursday to honour Lion Underwriting founder and former Underwriting Agencies Council chair Kurt Nilsen.

Mr Nilsen died late last month aged 52, after being diagnosed with cancer early last year.

Lion Underwriting says it has been overwhelmed by messages and support, and together with the Nilsen family it requests donations to the Pancare Foundation in lieu of sending flowers.

More than $8500 has already been raised in Mr Nilsen's memory, and donations can be made here.

The celebration of life will be at the Southport Yacht Club, Main Beach, Queensland, at 2pm.

“The Nilsen family welcomes anyone who would like to be there to remember the top person Kurt was,” a LinkedIn post says. “Among many things, we will remember Kurt as a larger-than-life kind of guy, with an excitable and infectious positive attitude.”

The Pancare Foundation helps people affected by upper gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers.

“Each year, over 13,000 Australians are diagnosed with these sorts of cancers, with some of the lowest survival rates out of all the major cancers,” Lion Underwriting says.

“The Pancare Foundation funds research that has the potential to deliver breakthroughs in treatment and care and, ultimately, save lives.”