A READING teenager who helped his mum through two tough years after she was diagnosed with cancer is taking on his biggest challenge in a bid to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Ollie Gerring, 13, will be tackling a 15km sponsored run from Reading to Wokingham on Saturday, April 24, 2021 to raise money that will help other mums like his in the future, with better and kinder treatments.

Ollie, a pupil at The Wren School, decided to attempt the challenge after his mum Vic was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2016 having noticed a dimple on her left breast.

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After undergoing treatment, surgery and then recovering she is now almost five years on from her ordeal and enjoying being a mum to Ollie as well as working as a passionate artist.

Vic said: “It's been one heck of a journey that still continues today with injections and tablets. But throughout it all, Ollie has been amazing.

“At first, he was really scared that I might die and to be honest, so was I.

“I answered his questions honestly - I've always figured if he's old enough to ask them, he deserves an age appropriate answer.

"Together, we fought our way through what was nearly two years of treatment, surgeries, recovery."

Ollie said that he felt helpless as he went into his mother’s room late one night to discuss what he could do to support the charity.

He then decided he could do a 15km run for Cancer Research UK, to help raise money for life-saving research.

Ollie has already raised over £1,000 and is hoping to raise more to help more people in Reading and across the UK survive the disease.

People can sponsor his fundraising efforts here https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/ollie10kforcancer

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Lucy Dennis, Cancer Research UK’s relationship manager for Berkshire, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ollie has decided to attempt such a great challenge, inspired by seeing his mum face a tough cancer diagnosis, to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK.

“He has been doing lots of preparation and we’re sure he is going to have an amazing experience. We can’t thank Ollie enough for his support and hope the people of Berkshire get behind him and show their support.”

Lucy added: “Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. The truth is COVID-19 has slowed us down - but we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow and we could not do this without the support of people like Ollie.”  

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit cruk.org.