Thousands of pounds raised in honour of brave Kieran

Kieran Wood, from Longhoughton, died on Wednesday, February 17, after a courageous fight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

In a tragic twist of fate, Kieran, as an 11-year-old, had said that he wanted to find a cure for the disease – just a few years before he was diagnosed.

His story has inspired members of the community to rally round and raise money for various cancer charities in his honour.

On Saturday, Andrew Kelly, Cameron Pearce and Jacob Crooks tackled a sponsored run in aid of Cancer Research UK. They have collected more than £1,600 – smashing their £1,500 target. To donate to the cause, visit justgiving.com/for-kieran/On Sunday, Alnwick’s Real Fitness gym held a fund-raising workout in aid of the TOMA Fund, which is a charity that supports children, teenagers, young people and their families in the North East and Cumbria who have been affected by a diagnosis of childhood cancer. The total raised is still being counted.

After Kieran’s funeral last month, a celebration of his life helped raise more than £1,180 for Children’s Cancer Trust, the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), CLIC Sargent and TOMA.

Alnwick’s Lindisfarne Middle School has held previous fund-raising events, while members of his family, David Blyth-Clarke and Alan Clarke, have raised cash for the TCT.

Olly Dial, of Olly Dial Elite Fitness, will be tackling the Tough Mudder Half Scotland with his clients in the summer. He will be doing the five-mile obstacle course in aid of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens. To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/olly-dial/The support has overwhelmed Kieran’s parents, Nikki and Stephen. Nikki said: “To see how generous everyone has been by donating not only their money but time to raise this money brings a lot of positivity to what are very dark days.

“We will continue fund-raising to beat cancer, just like Kieran had wanted to and help those that still have the battle to fight.”