A TRIO of brothers from Bridgwater have raised more than £3,500 for Young Lives vs Cancer.

Brothers Jacob, Archie, and Harvey, aged five, four and two respectively, completed the Kids Summer Challenge for the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity. The Challenge involved cycling or walking one mile every day in August.

The Young Lives vs Cancer’s Kids Summer Challenge encouraged children to complete a mile every day in August to raise money to support children and young people with cancer.

Jacob, Archie and Harvey completed their miles during the school holidays, and have so far raised more than £3,500. You can find read more about the boys’ fundraiser by visiting: https://bit.ly/3BPOmDo

The brothers’ mother, Claire Porter, said: “The boys did so well. I’m so happy that what they have done can make such an amazing difference to children and young people facing cancer, and their families, and I feel super proud of the three of them. We want to thank everyone who supported them.”

“I’m delighted to say the event was a great success and I want to thank all the Bridgwater locals who got behind it and were so generous with their donations. I’m really proud to be a part of ‘Team Young Lives’.”

“Cancer turns families’ lives upside down and it’s so important that Young Lives vs Cancer are there to provide all the support that they need. It feels great to see the boys dedicate their summer to help this amazing charity reach those families.”

Young Lives vs Cancer is the charity that helps children and young people up to the age of 25 and their families to find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. The charity’s social workers offer specialist, empowering support, its Homes from Home offer families a free place to stay nearby to the child’s hospital and grants help families to navigate the costs of cancer.

In 2023, Young Lives vs Cancer helped 116 children and young people in Somerset with cancer and helped families get the support they needed. On average, families of a child with cancer have to pay out £700 extra a month on things like travel, food and clothing.

To help families cope with the costs of cancer, the charity gave out 93 financial grants to the value of £17,900 to young people and families in Somerset.

Sophie Hartley, Young Lives vs Cancer Fundraising Engagement Manager for Somerset, said: “When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment but also of overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn to, no one to talk to.”

We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank Claire, Jacob, Archie and Harvey enough for their fantastic efforts. Thanks to this amazing family and everyone who donated, their support means Young Lives vs Cancer will be able to help even more young people with cancer to get the right support when they need it most.”