CHILDREN from a York school have taken part in a six-mile run for charity.

George and Harry Burt and Finlay Dunn organised and ran the event to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research on Thursday.

Caroline Burt, George and Harry’s mother, said the fundraising was done for a very personal reason.

She said: “My husband’s aunt Carol Boulton, who was like a grandmother figure to the boys, was diagnosed with breast cancer at Christmas. She was given the all clear a few weeks ago, but was recently tested again and it had returned. She was given weeks to live.”

Carol died on Tuesday at the age of 67, but George, 11, and Harry, eight, had made their minds up to organise and take part in the event with their friend Finlay, also 11. They ran near the River Ouse and finished at their school, Fishergate Primary, where Mrs Burt is also a teacher. She said: “George said he wanted to raise money by doing a six-mile run, because cancer has six letters.

“The head teacher and my husband joined in and it was a really lovely celebration made all the more poignant this week.”