SIX-YEAR-OLD friends have raised more than £3,000 for two good causes with a ten-mile sponsored walk.

Gina Gray and Joseph McDonald will split the £3,057 they have raised between the Freddie’s Fight campaign and children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.

Gina, from Thirsk and Joseph, from Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, walked from Joseph’s home to Helmsley last month.

Freddie Thompson, who lives in Ampleforth with his parents and older brother, was diagnosed with an aggressive stage four neuroblastoma when he was two years old.

The youngster has already undergone chemotherapy and surgery, and his family are now trying to raise £250,000 to send him for pioneering vaccine treatment in America, which could decrease his chances of a relapse.

Last week it was announced the fund has hit the £175,000 mark, with a further £75,000 needed to reach the total.

As well as Gina and Joseph, there were about 20 people on the walk, and another six children aged between five and seven.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

At the finish line outside The Black Swan in Helmsley, the pub presented Gina and Joseph with medals and certificates, and a very well deserved juice and piece of cake.

Gina’s mum Jo Gray thanked all those who had supported the children throughout the walk, and said: “We had an amazing day. The weather was very kind to us and the children were incredible.

They were in very high spirits all the way round, not once during the walk did anyone complain.

“The children carried collection buckets with them, accosting other walkers and passers by for any loose change. They even held a road block at one stage until “toll road funds” were paid!”