A BRAVE 13-year-old boy who has had to endure 64 bouts of chemo/immunotherapy while battling cancer has raised more than £5,000 for charity.

Football-mad teenager Josh Butterworth's life turned upside down when he was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year.

In the months since his diagnosis, Josh, from Hartford, has had to undergo multiple procedures during his treatment including 15 bone marrow aspirates and lumbar punctures.

The list doesn’t end there, he continued his treatment with 13 blood/platelet transfusions, 14 MRI/CT scans and spent 49 nights in hospital away from his family and friends.

Not only this, Josh also suffered a stroke induced by the toxic chemotherapy drugs and faces a three-year treatment course of steroid and antibiotic tablets to help cure him of cancer.

Through all this, Josh could be forgiven for focusing on his treatment and recovery but, undeterred, the Hartford High School student has set out to fundraise for The Joshua Tree, a Northwich-based children's cancer charity.

During September, which was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Josh aimed to cycle and walk 64 miles - one mile for every round of chemo/immunotherapy he had.

Northwich Guardian: Josh Butterworth and Danielle Percival (head of family support)Josh Butterworth and Danielle Percival (head of family support) (Image: Joshua Tree)

The courageous teenager has since smashed his initial target and completed 110 miles, raising more than £5,000 in the process.

Danielle Percival, the head of family support at The Joshua Tree, confirmed the money raised by Josh would help support families, like his, affected by a childhood cancer diagnosis.

She added: "Having witnessed first-hand how a cancer diagnosis can impacted the whole family, what Josh has achieved even whilst facing the toughest time of his 13 years is just incredible.

"We feel so honoured to be chosen as the charity to benefit from his fabulous efforts and generous donations for this inspiring challenge."

To donate towards Josh's amazing challenge, please donate via The Joshua Tree Just Giving page.