A PUPIL from Sutton Veny Primary School, whose grandmother was diagnosed with bowel cancer, ran to school for a week with his friends to raise money for a cancer charity as part of a whole family fundraising challenge.

Ten-year-old William Craddock from Warminster worked up a sweat as he ran three miles to school every day for a week along with best friends Lily Mason and Chloe Cartwright to raise money for 40Tude, a charity that sends out home tests for bowel cancer.

William’s grandmother, Brenda Birch, was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago after taking one of 40Tude’s home tests. She has now been cancer free for the last year and believes that the test saved her life.

William isn’t the only one who has been fundraising over the last few weeks, as his older brother Matthew, 14, completed the annual Sutton Veny 10k run, and his mum Nicola Craddock completed the Edinburgh marathon, all raising money for 40Tude.

The family has so far raised almost £2,000.

After having part of her bowel replaced during treatment, William and her other grandchildren nicknamed her new bowel Ruby, leading William to name his running challenge the Run for Ruby.

Mrs Craddock said: “I am so proud of William and his friends for raising so much money, it’s an incredible amount for ten-year-olds to raise, and I am proud of the whole family’s efforts, we’ve kept each other going.

“They were so full of enthusiasm and loved a challenge.

“We had great support from the school as everyone cheered us on and tooted horns as they passed us on the school run.

“We were even met with cakes on the last day that had been baked by one of the children’s’ friends, Tillie. She was our chief cheerleader!

“This is a charity so close to our family’s hearts, they saved my mum’s life when she did a test and found her cancer early.

“Around 95 per cent of bowel cancer cases are curable if found early enough, it so important to get checked. It is great to be able to give back to a brilliant charity.”

William said: “I am very grateful to my friends who ran with me. We were very tired at the end of the week but very proud of ourselves too.”

To donate, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/nicolacraddock13