THOUSANDS of school children from across York have shown their support for a brave 22-year-old who was given one year to live after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Personal trainer Cain North has stage four malignant glioblastoma – an aggressive, fast-growing brain tumour.

As The Press reported last month, he has vowed to use his remaining time alive to help others with brain tumours by raising money for York-based OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity.

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York Press: Cain North after his first operationCain North after his first operation (Image: Supplied)

Now the group of city schools that includes Cain's former schools Carr Junior and York High, have got together to raise money for a brain tumour charity.

Pupils from all six schools belonging to York-based South Bank Multi Academy Trust (SBMAT) ran, kicked and passed a rugby ball as part of their ‘Toulouse and Beyond’ challenge to raise money for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity which cares for children facing brain tumours and supports their families.

York Press: All of York High students and staff making the final push to ToulouseAll of York High students and staff making the final push to Toulouse (Image: Supplied)

Cain was diagnosed with a brain tumour 12 months ago and has dealt with this through relentless positivity. Cain, who has benefited from the great work OSCAR’s does, now actively raises awareness and funds for the charity and has been working with York High head, Rod Sims on various initiatives.

As The Press reported last month, Mr Sims is set to step down at the end of the Summer term this year having himself had a cancer diagnosis last year. He underwent chemotherapy and surgery and has now had the all-clear.

Mr Sims said: “As a Trust, we wanted to join together to raise awareness and funds for OSCAR’s, which does such incredible work for children and their families.

"As Cain and I are both passionate about rugby, we wanted to set an exciting rugby-themed challenge.

"Given that our local team, York Knights, are playing Toulouse Olympique from France at the end of this month, we came up with the plan that we would get pupils across the Trust to try to either run with a rugby ball, or kick or pass a rugby ball a collective distance of 1,467km – the same distance as it is from York to Toulouse.

"We knew that if all the 3,000-plus students in SBMAT could run, pass and kick a ball 500m we would achieve our target of ‘Toulouse and Beyond’.”

York Press: The Toulouse and Beyond challenge at Carr Junior SchoolThe Toulouse and Beyond challenge at Carr Junior School (Image: Supplied)

The children at Knavesmire and Scarcroft Primary Schools were joined during the challenge by professional rugby league players, Bailey Antrobus and Jesse Dee from York Knights and York Valkyrie players, Ellie Hendry and Carrie Roberts, spent an afternoon at Woodthorpe Primary and York High School. The rugby stars motivated the children, joining in with the challenge and impressing everyone with their skill and agility.

York Press: Bailey Antrobus joined pupils at the eventBailey Antrobus joined pupils at the event

Pupils across the Trust also attended either face-to-face or virtual assemblies during the week led by Phil Martinez, Charity Manager for OSCAR’s and learned more about the charity’s work. Phil was joined by Cain North on Friday morning at York High where students were also asked to wear a sports shirt for the day for a contribution of £1.

Mr Sims said: “At the end of the week, the total distance travelled by the SBMAT pupils, was an incredible 1493.7km.

"Adam Cooper the head at Knavesmire saved the day by running the last 6.3 kilometres in the Easter break to get us to a neat 1500km! When we have collected all of the donations, we are predicting we will have raised close to £1,500 for OSCAR’s. I’m so proud of everyone who took part, and I’d like to thank everyone who made this challenge possible and to everyone who has donated so far. It has been a very special week seeing our six schools join together for such a great cause.”

York Press: Carr Junior School pupils doing the Toulouse and Beyond challengeCarr Junior School pupils doing the Toulouse and Beyond challenge (Image: Supplied)

If you would like to donate, you can pledge money to OSCAR’s at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/south-bank-schools