THE appeal in memory of York schoolboy Oscar Hughes will receive a major boost when 30 runners take part in York's marathon on Sunday.

The runners, who will compete in relay during the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon wearing specially made colourful T-shirts, hope to raise at least £1,800 and could even collect as much as £5,000.

The money will go towards a charity specifically intended to help children with brain tumours, which is being set up by Marie Hughes of Dunnington, mother of the nine-year-old.

Oscar originally fell ill with a brain tumour in February last year but responded well to treatment until he suffered a sudden relapse earlier this year.

A fundraising campaign was launched in April to pay for him to take part in promising research and clinical trials abroad, which raised tens of thousands of pounds in a matter of days, but then the relapse proved too aggressive to treat and he died in May after an aggressive relapse in his condition.

Relay organisers said: "Last year Oscar watched and cheered as his mum and 11 friends ran the relay for his chosen charity - this year we all run it in memory of our beautiful boy and to help children like Oscar in the future."

*To support the runners, go to http://www.gofundme.com/fightingforoscar