PARKLANDS High School is celebrating the news that two pupils with cancer have completed their treatment just weeks apart from each other.

James Holcroft, in year 9, and Sally Cornes, in year 7, have both shown incredible courage throughout their journeys.

The news comes as the Chorley school raised more than £3,000 for charities close to both pupils’ hearts.

Sally, 11, presented a cheque to both her and James’s nurse for £2391.91, which was raised during a Macmillan Coffee Morning and a Have Your Cake and Eat It Fun Run.

James, 14, requested that donations from a non-uniform day be split between Children In Need and Ronald McDonald House, which has supported him.

The organisation provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital.

James was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia on July 15, 2015, aged 10.

During the first 12 months, he spent 158 nights in hospital and his family spent 100 days at The Ronald McDonald House Charity which is next to Manchester Children’s Hospital.

James’s mum Karen said: “It allowed our family to stay close to James whilst he was very poorly.

“We also stayed with them much more over the year.

“We have supported the charity for over three years now and James thought it would be fitting to do a Non-Uniform day at his school to raise funds to help support other families like ours.

“James wanted to mark his end of treatment, which he finished on the 10th November, just four weeks before his 14th birthday.”

Sally was diagnosed in primary school with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

She went on to receive Proton Beam Therapy in Germany, after being identified as one of only 41 children in the UK who qualified for the treatment.

Sally’s final round of chemotherapy was completed on the 18th September.

Katrina Dewhurst, Sally’s Australasia House Achievement Leader, said: “Sally’s parents and her older sister Milly have asked me to convey how immensely proud they are of Sally and how brave she has been throughout her illness. Parklands as a school and community could not agree more.

“For a child with cancer, ringing the bell marks the end of their treatment and signifies they are ready to get on with their lives.

“I cannot put into words how grateful I am to everyone involved for their help in fundraising for such important charities, especially when we know how they have directly helped pupils in our school .”

Steve Mitchell, headteacher from Parklands, added: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to all involved in raising so much money for the charities and raising awareness of cancer and the impact it has on everyone.

“We are delighted that all our cancer sufferers in school have now ‘rung the bell’ and hope this money will help find a cure for all forms of cancer.”