A PUPIL at a primary school near Wotton-under-Edge has raised over £1,000 for Cancer Research UK by wearing shorts all year round.

Thomas Saunderson, who is in Year 6 at North Nibley C of E Primary School, is raising money for Stand Up To Cancer in memory of his aunt, Michelle Smithers.

The 11-year-old has raised over £1,150, as well as more than £250 through Gift Aid, by wearing shorts throughout the year, including winter.

He has beat his fundraising target of £300, bringing in money through sponsor sheets, friends and family, an online fundraising page and social media.

Michelle, who lived with Thomas for a time, died from cancer in 2020 at the age of just 49.

The youngster has also seen his mum, Judith, battle cancer and undergo surgery.

“My aunt died from cancer in 2020, and it’s been really hard living life with the memory of her death,” Thomas, who lives in Swinhay, said.

“She played a giant role in my life, and she had to live in our house for a while before she died.

“We were at West Midlands Safari Park when my mum got a phone call reporting that my aunt was really poorly and was going to die that day.

“My mum also got cancer as well.

“Luckily, she survived, but she had to go through surgery.”

Thomas noted that he has a gene in his family which makes him more vulnerable to cancer.

“I don’t want to experience the same thing that happened to my aunt,” he said.

“My cousin Jack was only 15 when his mum died.

“My mum misses her sister a lot, and I miss my aunt.

“I find it really sad how people lose their lives to this terrible illness.”

A fundraising campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, Stand Up To Cancer in the UK brings the country together to speed up progress in lifesaving cancer research.

Its target is to ensure that three in four people in the UK survive their cancer by 2034.

To donate to Thomas’ fundraiser, visit fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/thomass-giving-page-759