INSPIRATIONAL youngster Evie-Mae Crawford opened a 24-hour relay to raise money for charity this weekend.

Now in its fifth year, the Relay For Life Oxford marks the end of a year of fundraising events which have raised about £26,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Evie-Mae, seven, was joined by various other cancer survivors and the Lord Mayor of Oxford for the walk at Oxford Harlequins Rugby Club in Summertown.

Participants set up camps and took turns walking.

The event, from midday on Saturday to midday on Sunday, aims to represent how ‘cancer never sleeps’.

Mum Jo Crawford said: “It was amazing - really good. Evie-Mae absolutely enjoyed it.

“Its such an emotional and tiring event (but) we all thoroughly enjoyed it.”

It is the latest in a series of fundraisers spearheaded by the Abbey Woods Academy pupil, who had five years’ worth of hair cut off in May to mark her time clear of cancer.

She gave the hair to the Little Princess Trust and raised £1,000 for Cancer Research UK during the event at her school in Berinsfield.

Anyone interested in next year’s Relay For Life can email Jacqueline John on relayforlifeoxford@gmail.com