A DETERMINED youngster took part in a 3k fun run and raised almost £300 for the Southend hospice which cared for his grandad until he died.

Archie Callaway, eight, from Rayleigh, asked to take part in Havens Hospices Southend BTMK Fun Run, which took place alongside the Southend Half Marathon last month.

Archie finished the race in 26th place followed by his dad, Mark, in 45th place out of more than 100 participants, raising £280 for Havens Hospices, which incorporates Fair Havens, in Westcliff, and Little Havens, in Thundersley.

Archie’s grandad Jack Callaway, from Southend, died aged 69 in June 2013 at Fair Havens, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in December 2012.

Mark said: “It was all Archie’s idea to run the 3k fun run, as he wanted to do something in memory of his grandad and for Fair Havens as my dad and the rest of the family were extremely well looked after there.

“My dad had a fairly bad time of it for a number of months, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. He had many different treatments and unfortunately his general ill health and emphysema meant operating on him was not really an option and so he went steadily downhill.

“He spent a lot of time in and out of Southend Hospital and this meant a lot of hardship for my mum in looking after him and trying to keep his spirits up.

I know she was extremely grateful and amazed by the support and general empathy shown by all the staff at Havens, although my dad’s time there was extremely short.”

Archie along with his dad Mark and four-year-old sister Maisie visited Little Havens and presented a cheque to Jane Hopkins, an events fundraiser for Havens Hospices.

She said: “We organise the fun run alongside the Southend Half Marathon so children, like Archie, can join in with fundraising for their local hospices. It’s lovely Archie has managed to raise so much money and now wants to take part in future events for Havens Hospices.

“It is fundraising for events like these that enable us to continue making every day count for people with life-limiting conditions throughout Essex.”

For more information on future events in support of Havens Hospices, visit www.havenshospices.org.uk