SCHOOLCHILDREN hit the trail to raise cash in memory of fellow pupil Kye Sammons.

Bardwell School’s 64 pupils have so far raised more than £1,000 for Helen and Douglas House, the hospice which helped care for Kye.

Kye, who lived with parents John and Sarah, and seven-month-old sister Charlotte, in Ambrosden, near Bicester, suffered from epilepsy and cerebral palsy, after being starved of oxygen at birth.

He was not expected to survive more than 48 hours, but the youngster fought on for four years until a bout of double pneumonia proved too much for his body to cope with.

He died in March this year.

On Wednesday pupils, aged four to 18, at the special needs school in Hendon Place, off Sunderland Drive, Bicester, completed 1,000 laps of a sports field at nearby Cooper School.

Staff and students were sponsored to walk, run or travel in their wheelchair around the track.

Kye’s aunts Elaine and Claire Owen went along to support the children.

Teacher Laurie Perisi said: “Kye was loved by all at Bardwell and the staff and students were eager to do something in his memory. The children all have different needs – for some it can be difficult to walk for long periods and they get tired.

“But they all kept going. It was amazing to watch.”

Mr Sammons said: “I would like to thank all those who did the walk. We’re very proud of them.”