CHILDREN, parents and staff from five primary schools in and around Alton came together to run a Race for Life relay, handing over a special torch crafted at Amery Hill School.

The relay was inspired by two children, eight-year-old Madison and four-year-old Jacob, whose mum, Jen Avis-Smith, died from cancer last year.

The youngsters, both pupils at Chawton Primary School, wanted to do “something special” in memory of their mum and had the idea of making a torch that would become the focus of a relay race.

Those taking part in the relay came from the small school’s cluster of Bentworth, Bentley, Binsted, Chawton, and Andrews Endowed School at Holybourne, and it looks to have rasied almost £2,000 for Cancer Research.

The money will be added to cash raised by other fundraising activities taking place across the schools, including the 100 family and friends of Jen who ran the Basingstoke Race for Life in June.