ONE hundred children are set to climb Mount Snowdon in a York charity’s first family challenge weekend as it steps up the fight against childhood brain tumours.

Plans for next year’s big climb were revealed after a ball organised by OSCAR’s (Ongoing Support, Care And Research into) Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity raised more than £20,000.

The charity, set up in memory of nine-year-old Dunnington schoolboy Oscar Hughes, who died in 2014 from a brain tumour, has also revealed more details of new tumour research it is helping to fund.

Sharon Reid, a spokeswoman for the charity, said the family challenge weekend would take place next June 9 and 10. “We’re looking for 100 children to climb Mount Snowdon with their families,” she said.

“The challenge is suitable for children, aged between five and 18, and we will have support on the walk via Climb Snowdon, a professional mountain leadership company.

“Most walkers will take the Llanberis Path up the mountain, a nine-mile round trip and 4000-feet elevation. There will be an option for more advanced walkers to take a more challenging route, weather permitting.”

Sharon said the children would be asked to try to raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorship and would be provided with a t-shirt, a medal and certificate on completion.

She revealed that a ‘head dress ball,’ held at Leeds Royal Armouries last month, had raised more than £21,000 and the charity was now set to donate £125,000 towards improving understanding and treatment of the type of childhood brain tumour which took Oscar’s life through groundbreaking international research.

“The research will be funded in partnership with The Brain Tumour Charity and led by Professor Louis Chesler at the world-renowned Institute of Cancer Research in London,” said Sharon.

“Professor Chesler is working with researchers based in Germany and the USA to analyse the genetic make-up of Group 3 medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumour in children. The researchers will also work on new ways to test drugs for this type of tumour.

“If successful, the five-year initiative could lead to the development of new drugs to treat medulloblastoma.

“The donation from OSCAR’s, made up of £25,000 per year for the next five years, will help to fund UK-based researchers working on the project.”

To apply to take part in the walk, go to www.oscarspbtc.org/events/familychallengeweekend