Sponsored laps of the playground saw pupils at St Pancras Primary in Ipswich raise more than £2,300 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Earlier this year, all 212 pupils at the school took part in the marathon fundraising event, held as a show of support for Josh Carter, the cousin of Year 4 St Pancras pupil Roan Tucker, who received help from the Teenage Cancer Trust after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was 19-years-old.
In July, Roan’s friend and fellow St Pancras Primary pupil Alfie Fletcher also shaved his head for the cause.
On Friday, the children heard how their efforts and the money raised would help support other youngsters living with the disease when Jennifer Townsend from the Teenage Cancer Trust hosted an assembley at the school, and received a cheque for £2,380.
Headteacher Stephen Barker said: “It means an awful lot to us, because we have had two children here in recent years who have gone on to have cancer in their teenage years.
“It’s very close to home for us. A lot of our children and our families know the families who have been through it.
“For us, it’s like helping members of our own families.”
Emma Tucker, Roan’s mum. said on Friday: “Today was very special. It was amazing to see that such a small school has raised so much money for a wonderful charity.
“I felt so blessed that the whole school embraced the mini marathon in support of our family, my son Roan and especially Josh.
“We are overwhelmed with the generosity of the St Pancras School family in raising over £2,300. Put that with the £2,500 that I raised in completing The London Marathon this year, plus Alfie’s head shave of £500 brings the grand total to around £5,500.”
Josh added: “A massive thank you to the kids, and more importantly thank you for raising awareness.”
Ms Townsend, regional fundraiser at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Such a fantastic amount has been raised by St Pancras Catholic Primary School and we are very grateful for this generous donation. Every penny raised from the mini marathon will help us to make sure the seven young people aged 13 to 24 diagnosed with cancer every day don’t face it alone.
“We’ve made great progress in making sure that young people with cancer have the best treatment, care and support but there is so much more to do.
“Right now, for every young person we help, there is another we can’t reach. It is through the amazing fundraising of supporters like the pupils, teachers, friends and family at the school that we will be able to reach every young person with cancer that needs us.”
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