A YOUNGSTER whose tooth fairy donation triggered an online fund raising campaign has met the founder of a national charity and been given rare access to its research laboratory.

Seven year-old Oliver Williams, from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, travelled with his family to Liverpool to tour the head office of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

There he met founder Professor Ray Donnelly as well as members of its fund raising team and was given a white lab coat with his name on the back by chief executive Paula Chadwick.

Later, Oliver, who was accompanied by mam Jenny, stepdad Ste and younger brother Jack, visited the charity’s laboratory and saw first hand some of the research taking place into tackling lung cancer.

Instead of pocketing the £4 he received from the tooth fairy, Oliver, a pupil at Ingleby Mill Primary School, pledged it to charity.

The kind gesture, which prompted others to match his £4, was inspired by his love for his grandmother, who suffers from lung cancer.

So far a fund raising page set up by Jenny has raised more than £1,500 for the Roy Castle Lung Foundation, which is named after the late television presenter and entertainer.

Jenny said: “Ollie got to meet the charity’s founder Professor Ray Donnelly and they gave him a lab jacket with his name on the back.

“Everybody in the office came to meet him and shook his hand – there was not one person who didn’t know him or his story.

“We also visited the labs, where they don’t usually let anybody in, and it was really interesting. He learnt all about DNA and they showed him all the equipment they use.

“One piece of equipment cost £85,000 and we were trying to explain to him this is where the money goes.

“He has also got lots more donations. He is quite overwhelmed and hopefully when he is older he will realise just how big this has been.”

Jack Miller, director of fundraising for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, added: “We’re incredibly grateful for Oliver’s generous gesture and we wanted to do something special to recognise what he’s achieved at such a young age.

“Contributions from our supporters, big or small, help to fund vital lung cancer research, so we thought it was appropriate to give Oliver a behind the scenes look at the work our researchers are carrying out. It wouldn’t be possible without supporters like him."

Anyone who would like to donate to Oliver’s campaign can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/Baba