DESPITE the fact that she’s not running Sunday’s Race for Life, 11-year-old Lexie Lydon wanted to do her part to help beat cancer.

Along with a group of friends, she decided to turn her hobby into a money-making scheme after being inspired by others taking part.

Lexie teamed up with pals to make loom bracelets – pieces of jewellery made from coloured strips of elastic linked together – to sell to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The Matthew Arnold School said: “My older sister Jessica is running the race and I decided to raise money to help.

“It’s fun making them for charity and there were six of us doing it.

“They’re loom bracelets, they’re little elastic coloured bands you can get and make them into a bracelet with lots of patterns and colours.”

The youngsters sold more than 140 bracelets for 25p each to passers-by and neighbours on the Southern Bypass outside her home and raised £35.

The money is going to Catherine’s Angels – a group of more than 30 girls who run the Race for Life in memory of Catherine Davis, mother of Matthew Arnold School pupil Sarah Davis.

Mrs Davis died from breast cancer in 2012 aged 43.

Lexie said: “She was one of our family friends.Sarah does a Pink Day at school to raise money when we all dress in pink and I decided to do something after that.

“My granddad also has throat cancer so I want to help find a cure.”

Lexie’s mum Melinda added: “I told Lexie she couldn’t run the Race for Life this year so she wanted to do this to help instead. Sarah was really touched.

“She and her friends sold the bracelets over three days to passers-by and neighbours. I think it’s great that they’ve raised some money for it. They’ve all been really excited about it.”

Since her mother’s death, Sarah, 15, has raised more than £11,000 for Cancer Research UK through Catherine’s Angels.

She said: “Mum fought cancer for seven years and was the strongest lady ever.

“But cancer took her. I want to raise as much money as humanly possible to fight this cruel disease and prevent more lives being taken.”

Last year, 6,165 women took part in Oxford’s Race for Life and raised more than £362,500. This year, organisers need 6,300 women and girls to take part to help raise almost £371,000.

The race will be start at Oxford University Parks at 10am.

Entries for Race for Life Oxford close at midnight on Friday. To enter visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.

Sarah’s sponsorship page is at justgiving.com/ catherines-angels/

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