PUPILS turned up the heat on cancer to support their classmate Elliot Barton, who suffers from leukaemia.

As reported in the Echo, five-year-old Elliot, from Chickerell, was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, a rare form of the disease only five people are diagnosed with each year in the UK.

Elliot’s family launched national campaign ‘BBQ for Cancer Research’ to raise money for the charity and help other children affected with cancer.

But they had to call off their own fundraiser after Elliot’s leukaemia returned and he went back to hospital to have a second bone marrow transplant.

So Karen O’Gorman, the mother of Elliot’s friend Finn, organised a barbecue at Weymouth Rugby Club to show the community’s support for the youngster and his campaign.

Mrs O’Gorman said the youngsters, from Wyke Regis Infant School, even wore fancy dress as it is something Elliot loves dressing up in.

She said: “As well as raising money for Cancer Research we wanted to keep in touch so Elliot knows the children in his class are missing him. They made him a big poster and drew pictures which will be sent to him in hospital.”

Elliot’s mum Joanna Barton, 37, said it was a shame the family couldn’t participate in their campaign, but they were grateful to everyone who has taken part so far.

“It’s great people are supporting research, which can bring treatment and cures about.

“It’s been nine days since Elliot’s transplant and even though he’s been through chemo and the operation, he’s coping so well. It’ll make a real difference for him to hear about his friends doing the barbeque. He loves sending pictures back and forth between his friends so it’ll be lovely for him to see what they’ve done.”

There’s still time to sign up to be a Cancer Research UK barbecue hero.

To get a free pack with recipe ideas, decorations and much more, visit cruk.org/BBQ To support Karen’s Cancer Research barbecue fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/BBQer-Karen-OGorman