A TEENAGER who owes his life to a specialist baby unit rallied his friends for a gruelling 24-hour football fundraiser.

George Burr, 17, sprinted around a sports hall booting a ball alongside 20 of his schoolmates – of which five others were also born on the John Radcliffe’s Silver Star ward - for the mammoth match.

The students, who go to Cokethorpe School near Witney, have raised more than £5,000 between them for the unit’s fundraising arm, following their mammoth match at the weekend.

George, who lives in nearby Curbridge, said: "It’s a suitable cause after what they did for me. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been born.

"Football is my favourite sport so my aim was to play for 24 hours – it was a very enduring challenge."

The teenager was born seven weeks premature at the Silver Star, which supports mothers with medical complications during pregnancy.

He and his teammates played five-a-side from 2pm on Saturday until 2pm on Sunday, aided by their school which offered its sports hall as a venue.

George added: "I was shattered afterwards, very achy."

The boys took turns to swap in and out of the teams throughout the match, refuelling at the side-lines in between with refreshments and naps.

In the end the 'Stars' beat the 'Silvers' by 576 goals to 524.

George's mum Melanie Page was among parents who chaperoned and refereed the game, alongside professionals from Oxfordshire Football Association and Cokethorpe teachers.

She said: "I’m immensely proud of him. I’m not sure I know another group of 16-17 year-olds who would take on such a challenge. He couldn’t have done it without his friends."

Mrs Page said she was "lucky" to have been cared for at the Silver Star unit after high blood pressure led to doctors’ prediction that she would have a premature birth.

She said: "When you’re pregnant you take for granted that it’s going to be plain sailing. It was very frightening to be told you are not going to go full term. I was fortunate to live in Oxfordshire and get care at the John Radcliffe."

George was born in August way ahead of Mrs Page’s October due date, weighing in at little more than three pounds – so small that his tiny head fit in the palm of her hand.

She added: "Without Silver Star it wouldn’t have been a successful outcome."

Her son paid "massive thanks" to those who have donated so far, as well as his school and Bicester Town under 18s coach Graham England for kitting out the team.

He also wanted to individually thank his teammates - Charlie Artus, Dan Bailey, Freddie Barnes, Tom Craig, Sam Coles, Max England, Angus Findlay-Wilson, Ali Grime, Tighe Handley, Andy Marples, Sam Mumford, Ben Munday, Sam Orton, Dave Owen, Callum Rowe, Harry Stradling, Sam Sweet, Dickie Turner and James Wheeler.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/George-Burr.