15426/1GAZETTE & HERALD: FOURTEEN young school friends pulled on their walking boots on Tuesday and embarked on a 28-mile trek to honour friends and family who had lost their battle with cancer.

The students who are all working for their GCSEs at Corsham School raised £800 for Cancer Research from their half term walk to Bath and back.

Tom Perry, 16, of Purleigh Road, Corsham, came up with the idea for a fundraiser, but was spurred into action when he found out that his grandfather was suffering from cancer.

He said: "I just decided it would be good to do something for charity. Every one of us that did it knows someone who has been affected by cancer so it was the most relevant charity to do it for.

"Then a few weeks ago I found out my grandad had leukaemia so it made it even more relevant."

He said grandfather Brian Wigmore, 67, of Velley Hill, Gastard, who is in hospital and has already started chemotherapy, was proud of the friends' achievement.

"I texted him when I had finished and he rang me to congratulate me," Tom said.

The group plotted a safe four-hour route around country lanes and past Real World Studio.

They set off from Tom's house at 9.15am and after an hour's rest in Bath they finally returned home at 6pm.

Tom wrote to the charity Cancer Research and it sent the teenagers banners, balloons, stickers and collecting tins.

"It was a bit of a weird route but we got there eventually," Tom said.

"It just took a bit longer than expected. It was very tiring and we all had blisters on our feet at the end.

"We didn't think we would raise as much as we did. It was amazing how much response we got.

"People were waving. We got a really good response. One woman driver who was stationary in traffic wound her window down and called us over to put money in the collection tin."

GWR Bath also stopped them in their tracks and interviewed Michelle Lewis, one of the walkers.

Her aunt died from cancer last year. Michelle said at first she had seemed to be getting better. She decided she wanted to help Tom with the fundraising.

"It's a good charity to raise money for," Michelle, 15, said.

"We were waving to all the cars and everyone was beeping their horns. We were all happy and it was good to do it in a group."

Michelle has done a few walks but never for charity. She said she might now walk from Stonehenge to Avebury with her dad for Cancer Research.

Chris Light, 16, of Priory Street, Corsham, was surprised when he worked out the route was 28 miles.

"It was the most amazing feeling. Realising what you've actually achieved in one day. We went the long way round and we could see all of Bath lit up. It was a fantastic view. We were feeling it the next day though," he said.

A 15-year-old who also joined in the walk said: "A few friends and family have been touched by cancer so it was good to feel we were actually helping. It was rewarding and not just for us, but for Cancer Research.

"It's the sort of thing we will probably do again. It's great if it saves lives," he said. "Certainly on the way it was a good laugh and when we got to the Bath sign we all started smiling. We were proud of ourselves."