WHILE undergoing gruelling treatment for a brain tumour, inspirational youngster Daniel Wilkinson has been fundraising to help others with the illness.

Ten-year-old Daniel was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in March and subsequently underwent surgery to remove it.

He has recently endured six weeks of radiotherapy and six weeks of vincristine chemotherapy, which have left him exhausted.

Despite this, Daniel and his family have managed to raise £4,100 for Andrea's Gift, a Bradford-based charity that strives to raise awareness and funding for adults and children suffering with brain tumours.

The idea of fundraising started after Daniel kept a bucket near him when he was feeling nauseous and visitors would drop money into the bucket.

The family followed this up with other fundraising activities such as balloon races and a cake stall, which brought the total to £2,600.

Skipton firm Homeloan Management Limited topped this total up to £4,100.

Daniel's mum Tracey, who along with his dad, David, helped to raise the money, told the Herald: "I said that if we could get £500, it would be lovely."

Daniel lives with his parents and brother Liam, seven, on Monkmans Wharf, Silsden.

The Hothfield Junior School pupil faces further sessions of chemotherapy at St James' Hospital along with blood transfusions.

Daniel was first taken to the doctors after he continued to be violently sick. It was initially thought he was suffering with an abdominal migraine.

However, he was eventually sent for an MRI scan which revealed he had a tumour at the back of his brain. Two days later he was in the operating theatre having the growth removed.

Since then Mrs Wilkinson has taken time off work to look after her son. He has not been able to attend school, although it is hoped he may be able to return to class in September depending on his health.

Mrs Wilkinson said that it had been a hard time for the family but added: "We have got a close family and we try and keep him upbeat."

Co-founder of Andrea's Gift and current chair and trustee Carol Robertson thanked the Wilkinson family.

She said: "They have been fantastic in their support of Andrea's Gift and have channelled so much energy into fundraising at a very difficult time,

"Donations are vital to ensure that we continue to develop new treatments for brain tumours. Andrea's Gift is the only charity in Yorkshire that looks after the needs of the brain tumour community."

"We are working on a number of different projects, our main one being to establish, fund and support a laboratory and research team that will dedicate themselves to developing effective treatments for brain tumours."