A teacher with breast cancer has described her pupil as “my hero” after he embarked on sponsored runs to help her.
Molly Andrews, a Year 5 teacher, says 11-year-old Max, from Bingham in Nottinghamshire, is the one who has kept her going after her diagnosis.
Max has raised £3,000 to pay towards Molly’s living expenses while she undergoes treatment.
He has run 4km (2.5 miles) a day with friends and well-wishers throughout August, finishing with a final jog this weekend near his home with as many of his supporters as possible there to cheer him on.
Max has completed his runs both in organised events and by himself [Supplied]
Max and Molly struck up a friendship early on.
Molly, 24, says: “He was in my first ever class. I had just finished teacher training and he was in my first year group, so those are very special children.”
Max said: “The year before I didn’t have a great year because I didn’t really enjoy it.
“But then when I went into Year 5, it was just the best year ever.
“It was fun and nothing felt boring – even the subjects I didn’t enjoy were just fun.”
In April, Molly found a lump and while she was referred for tests, her age meant both she and the doctor were not worried.
“I went to hospital, they did a biopsy and then on 11 June, I got a phone call saying ‘you need to come into hospital today’.
“And I kind of just knew, because they don’t call you in if it’s nothing.”
Fortunately the cancer has not spread.
“But if I hadn’t got checked,” she adds. “If I hadn’t been seen, hadn’t gone for that appointment and been waiting, it could have been a different story.”
Max says raising money by running is a practical way to show his support for Molly [Supplied]
Max was keen to give his support.
“It’s to help Ms Andrews get through the cancer and make it easier.
“At first we didn’t know what to do, but we wanted to do something that everyone can do so, we ended up doing running.”
Molly says: “[The support] keeps you going.
“Max’s friends post every day and, particularly when I’m really poorly after chemotherapy, I can’t really do anything but seeing his runs, it really keeps you motivated, keeps you going.
“It’s just been something lovely every day.”
She confirmed that while she did not have a confirmed date, she was “100% going back to teaching. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do”.
Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.