A COMMUNITY effort to help teenager Lewis Thornton has been hailed a great success.

Lewis, now 18, battled cancer as a 16-month-old baby to find it had returned when he was 16.

The former York High School pupil has since suffered from a series of medical problems and doctors have recently said there is nothing more they can do to cure his brain tumour.

His mum, Rebecca Thompson, said she has had an incredible response to fundraising efforts and believes she can now go ahead with adapting the garage of her house off Tadcaster Road to make a comfortable and accessible living area for Lewis.

On Friday, the former York High School pupil returned to his old school where year eight pupil and family friend Leon Boyce had his shoulder-length hair cut off before other cheering students, raising £309 through the generous donations of pupils and staff.

Meanwhile, a Song For Lewis event held at the Post Office Club in Marygate raised £795. A further £100 has so far been made by the sale of colourful Lewis Thornton Appeal Brain Cancer Awareness wristbands. About his return to York High School, Miss Thompson said: “It was really good. Lewis really liked it and enjoyed seeing his old teachers. He said he was thrilled to see everyone.”

After learning the cancer had returned when he was 16, Lewis underwent an operation to remove the brain tumour and have intensive radiotherapy. But he developed an abscess on his brain and then meningitis, which means he has lost the use of his right hand, arm and leg and the hearing in one ear and had to spend six months in hospital.

• To buy a wristband, or for more information about Lewis’s appeal, visit his Facebook group Lewis Thornton Appeal.