FORTY pupils and staff from Rougemont School are running the Newport half marathon to raise funds for the cancer centre who have helped to support a number of their family members.

Sixth form pupils at the Newport secondary school have chosen to fundraise for the Velindre Cancer Centre, based in Cardiff, which provides support for more than 1.5 million people across south east Wales.

Registration fees from the half marathon, which is backed by the Argus, will go to St David’s Hospice.

Andy Richards, head of year 13, said: “I was going through the UCAs applications and I noticed a lot students wanting to do medicine and pharmacy. Their reasons for this were because they had been affected by cancer with family members receiving treatment. We wanted to support them at the school.”

The school is hoping to raise £10,000 for the centre and have already raised £609.33 from online donations and £167.15 through donation buckets.

Lucy Cox, 18, a year 13 pupil, has been attending the Velindre Cancer Centre where her mum Laura is currently receiving treatment for liver cancer.

She said: “Velindre have been amazing over the summer, I’ve taken my mum a few times at 2am.

“They are very supportive of families and always answer my mums list of questions.

“She had breast cancer which has spread to the liver.

“The breast cancer is gone but the other cancer in her liver won’t go away. She will be in need cycles of chemotherapy for the rest of her life.

“I am excited about the marathon. I took part in the Cwmbran race for life, it felt really good at the end of it as you’re running for someone else.”

The pupils have already started training for the 13-mile marathon which will begin from Rodney Parade on March 2.

Year 13 pupil Kathryn Dunn,17, said: “Lucy is my best friend. I wanted to do it for her and for Velindre. They not only help people but they also do a lot of research which I am really interest in doing when I finish university.”

The school is hoping to set up a movie night to raise additional funds for the centre.

Faris Hussain, 18, year 13 pupil, said: “My grandmother died from cancer in Wales when I was very young. It’s great that so many people have got involved as it’s such a great cause.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/

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