A teenager has helped raise thousands of pounds for a charity which has helped him fight against a rare form of cancer.

Rajan Chavda was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), which usually only affects older people, when he was 17.

But after spending ten days in hospital after the diagnosis last October, the 18-year-old is now on medication to control his white blood cells and looking forward to university and leading a normal life.

And Rajan, from Yeadon, has also been raising funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust with special events at school and businesses in the area.

So far, the teenager has helped raise more than £3,000 with a Rag Week at Guiseley School and a charity curry night at Red Pepper in Otley.

His mother, Parvati Chavda, said her family’s world was changed when Rajan was diagnosed with CML.

“When we found out we could not believe this was happening to us, Rajan being a healthy teenager. Our whole life seemed to turn upside down overnight,” she said.

“CML is very rare condition for teenagers to have as it only happens to the older generation. After spending ten days in hospital, he is now on medication which controls the white blood cells not to multiply.

“This is not a cure but being on the medication has given his life back. He is looking at universities and leading a normal life as possible.”

During the Rag Week, there was a host of activities including a non-uniform day, a ‘splat the teacher’ session, penalty shootouts and a hire-a-sixth-former for a day event which raised a total of £2,000 for the trust.

The curry night raised £450 and, with other activities, the teenager has helped raised more than £3,000 overall.

One of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s bosses also went to the school to talk about the charity and the work it does.

It is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day.

It helps build units within NHS hospitals bringing young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.

  • For more information on the Teenage Cancer Trust, go to teenagecancertrust.org.