HUNDREDS of pupils at a York school – including champion fundraiser Oscar Hughes – are set to take part in their own marathon to help a children’s cancer charity.

Oscar, who is recovering from an operation to remove a brain tumour earlier this year, is helping to organise Dunnington Primary School’s version of the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon later this month. Every pupil in the school is aiming to run 200 metres on Monday, October 14, collectively completing a minimum of 42,165 metres – which equals the 26.2 miles of a marathon.

About 250 children and teachers will take part in the hope of raising £3,000 for Yorkshire Candlelighters.

Oscar, eight, has already raised more than £2,800 for the charity through selling balloons at Dunnington Fair in July, said his mother Marie. She said he was currently undergoing his third out of eight cycles of chemotherapy following his 11-hour operation, and was doing extremely well. She said Oscar, who is a finalist in The Press’ Community Pride Child of the Year award, hoped to speed-walk the final 200 metres of the marathon, all being well. She thanked Sharon and Ben Reid, who were friends of the family, for helping to organise the event.

The school’s head yeacher, Caroline Hancy, said Oscar continued to be an inspiration to everyone at the school.

“We are extremely proud of him,” she said. “He has always been a very committed and talented sportsman and, despite his illness, has been determined to stay as active as possible. As a school we are keen to support him with his fundraising efforts. Pupils and staff will have their trainers at the ready for what, I’m sure, will be an exciting afternoon.”

•To make a donation, go to http://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/dunningtonprimaryschoolmarathon