A TERMINALLY ill teenager is hoping to raise as much money as possible for a charity which is granting Christmas wishes to sick youngsters.

Dylan Knox, 18, is following in the footsteps of inspirational fundraiser Stephen Sutton, who died in May, aged 19, and raised almost £5m.

The teenager, who lives in Houghton-le-Spring, has spent six years battling Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, but medics have told him and his family nothing more can be done.

The Teenage Cancer Trust charity is launching its annual 12 days of Christmas Wishes campaign, encouraging local businesses, organisations and schools to pledge their support to young people with cancer this Christmas.

Dylan has now set up Team Dylan in support of the charity, which he credits with being a ‘huge help’ in his life over the past few years.

As part of his campaign, he is urging businesses and organisations from across the region to make a donation instead of buying cards or gifts for staff or clients.

He said: "Team Dylan came about after discovering that my cancer was incurable. I am determined to enjoy life and at the same time raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, who have been a huge support to me and my family."

By donating to the appeal, people can help the charity raise the £10,000 needed to help transform the lives of young people with cancer.

The charity has a list of days and pledges that people can choose from, starting with a Flip camera for a young person to share their story with others on the first day and finishing with the pledge for 1,200 local students to be educated on the signs of cancer on the 12th day.

Trust fundraiser Zoe Hull said: “For every young person with cancer that we can support there is another who we can’t and we’d like to ask local people to pledge their support for our 12 days of Christmas Wishes campaign to help us achieve the goal of supporting every young person with cancer from the moment they are diagnosed.”

To support Dylan search for Dylan Knox's Teenage Cancer Trust Fundraising on Facebook or to find out more contact Zoe Hull on Zoe.hull@teenagecancertrust.org or 0795-759-1190.