A TAVISTOCK College student completed a half marathon to raise funds for a cancer charity after losing a family member to the disease.

Chris Gardiner, 17, ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London in 2 hours and 14 minutes as part of his quest to raise money to fund research into brain tumours.

Chris said: 'We are raising money under the umbrella charity of Brainstrusts and are known as the "George Pickard Fellowship" after our relative who died of a brain tumour.

'It was my first half marathon and it felt amazing; we had the whole family watching. Miles six to nine were tough, but the start and finish were really good.'

The George Pickard Fellowship was represented in the half marathon on October 10 by 22 of his friends and family — on what would have been his 44th birthday.

The group aimed to raise at least £44,000 but has already received more than £90,000 to fund research at the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre at Charing Cross Hospital.

For his next fundraising effort, Chris is organising a concert which will take place in January.

Ian Barnes, director of sixth form, said: 'Chris is a super lad and he put a great deal of effort into fundraising for this event, not to mention the aches and pains he suffered with good humour afterwards!

'With his passion for music I am sure the concert will also be a great hit.'