Nine years after Oscar Hughes died from a brain tumour, half of his old primary school class will be taking on a fundraising event in his memory.
They will complete a 5k Inflatable Run, raising funds for Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity, set up after the much-loved nine-year-old died.
Former pupils from Dunnington Primary responded to a promise made years ago by their Year 6 teacher, Phil Martinez, who now manages the charity.
When they were in his class, he told them he would arrange an event in the future for them to take part in.
Lily Gray, one of the pupils, saw the event on social media and helped get some of the team together.
“All of Oscar’s friends knew him as funny, intelligent but most of all athletic,” Lily said. “He loved sports and being active.
“Watching our close friend lose his life is something that will stay with us all, and we know if Oscar was here he would be running alongside us… Well, he would be at the front probably winning it!”
Oscar died in 2014. His younger brother Milo, aged five, and his father Ian also died after developing brain tumours.
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“The response to the event has been amazing,” said Phil. “So many people have been inspired by Oscar’s story and the aims of the charity.”
He added:
There are a lot of stories involved in why people take part in charity events, but my ex-pupils and Oscar’s ex-classmates joining us is really special.
They were a great bunch of children all the way through primary school, who had a lot to deal with at a young age – and they are showing that they are still a great group now.
Phil said the charity hope to raise £18,000 to help fund support and care for children with brain tumours, raise awareness of the disease amongst other schoolchildren and health professionals to help improve diagnosis as well as continue to fund research.
Oscar’s team has been kindly sponsored by Athena HR, who are taking part in the run. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Oscar’s classmates can head to their JustGiving page here.