BIG-HEARTED youngsters have spent their summer running the length of a marathon to raise cash for their friend’s mum who is battling cancer.

Twenty children from Plumberow Primary Academy, Hockley, have completed 26 miles, each, over their summer holidays raising more than £2,000 to give to the family of Debbie Pepper, 43, who has been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.

The idea was proposed by nine-year-old Harvey, son of Annette Allum, who is friends with Debbie’s son Freddie.

The pair went on to recruit classmates to join the marathon fund-raising effort.

Ms Allum, 39, said: “One day after school Harvey came to me and said that he knew Freddie’s mum was quite ill and that he really wanted to do something to raise a bit of money to fight cancer.

“I had a look at some of the events that could be done to fundraise, but a lot of them had already taken place or were full up for this year, so I said to him about running the length of a marathon over the summer while he was away from school.

“He really liked that idea and asked a lot of his friends in his class to do it as well.

“There must have been about 20 of them doing it in the end.”

The children, who have named themselves “Plumberow Kidz Against Cancer” initially set a target of £500, but have now raised more than £2,000. It’s planned for half of it to go to Debbie’s family, and the other half will go to a children’s cancer charity.

Echo:

The full list of children who took part over the summer 

The children finished their challenge last week.

Ms Allum added: “I think it’s really lovely that these kids wanted to get together and make a difference to their friend’s mum.

“Harvey was just really keen to do something so he could help. I don’t think he even realises just how ill Debbie is. Bowel cancer can affect anyone, so it’s good they’re raising awareness.”

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