DOZENS of the region's leading athletes took part in an annual competition to raise money in memory of Kieran Maxwell.

The Kieran Maxwell Memorial Track and Field Open attracted competitors from athletic clubs in the North East to take part in the event at Middlesbrough's Sports Village and managed to raise thousands for the charity.

CKJ Interiors Ltd, TB Tarn, ECO Rend, Up & Running Darlington and The Lions International all sponsored the event, which raised nearly doubled what was raised the previous year.

Entries also had to be closed early due to unprecedented demand.

His mother, Nicola, said: "For me the success of the memorial shows how much Kieran touched people's lives. That they are willing to support us to keep Kieran's memory and his dream of no children dying of cancer."

The Northern Echo: AWARD: Kieran Maxwell chats to Prince Harry at the recent WellChild Awards in London. He has now travelled to Brazil for the Paralympic School Games

Kieran with Prince Harry

The event, which was inaugurated last year, is held in memory of Kieran Maxwell, from Heighington, who died in June 2017 at the age of 18 after a seven-year fight against the rare illness, Ewing’s Sarcoma.

A promising sprinter, and a member of the Darlington Harriers, Kieran was being considered for the Great Britain Paralympic triathlon team thanks to his performances on the track.

For details visit www.kieranmaxwellopen.co.uk