Teachers' mission to support teen with cancer

Shelley (left) said her son Thomas (left) was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last summer

A team of teachers will attempt the Welsh Three Peaks challenge to raise funds for a charity supporting a teenager living with cancer.

Thomas, 15, from Bristol, is halfway through two years of intensive treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after being diagnosed last summer.

Sixteen teachers and staff from Mangotsfield School were brought together by assistant head, Gareth John, who said it is a "challenging time" for the family.

Thomas' mother Shelley, who is also a teacher at Mangotsfield School, said: “For the school to do something like this is incredible."

"Getting that diagnosis was just devastating for my husband Ben and I," she said.

"It’s hard to put it into words how we felt at that moment when every possible worse scenario you can imagine goes through your head.

“But it’s the most common cancer in children and the most treatable and Thomas has been given a 99% chance of survival.”

Mr Jones (far right) brought a team of school teachers and staff together for the challenge

The team hope to complete the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge - a lesser known version of the National or Yorkshire Challenges - within 12 to 18 hours.

It includes Snowdon in the north, Cadair Idris in mid-Wales, and Pen y Fan in the south, a total walking distance of 17 miles (27.4km).

The charity Molly Ollys, which provides support to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, has been working with Thomas' family during his treatment.

Shelly said the charity has been "amazing".

"We’ve already done loads of fundraising for it as a family," she added.

Thomas (right) has been given a 99% chance of survival

Mr John, who has worked with Shelley for 14 years, said he is hoping to hit a fundraising target of £3,000 for the charity.

"The thing we’re most worried about is the weather and the differential in fitness levels," he said.

“But it will never be far from our minds why we are doing this.

"We are very aware of the challenging times that Shelley and the family have gone through."

Rachel Ollerenshaw, from Molly Ollys, said it is "incredibly humbling" to hear the "kind words of thanks" from the families they support.

"A huge thank you to everyone involved at Mangotsfield," she said.

"[It's] just incredible and we are very grateful to you all.”

The team aims to complete the challenge later.