GENEROUS students delved deep into their pockets, raising the largest single amount donated so far to The Journal’s Help My Son To Live campaign.

Vanessa Evens, of Green Close, was handed a cheque for �2000 from Exmouth Community College this week to go towards vital cancer treatment that her son, Raymond, needs in less than two months.

The money was raised after the college held a mufti day.

Principal, Tony Alexander, said: “We are pleased to be able to contribute to the appeal and I am proud of the way students have responded with such generosity in aid of such a brave boy.”

The school has pledged to look at further ways to support the campaign in the coming weeks.

Raymond has been diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumour near his eye, for the second time in his life.

The youngster, whose twelfth birthday was this week, has been unable to attend the college where he studies on a regular basis this term because of ongoing hospital appointments.

He is currently undergoing an intensive timetable of five days chemotherapy, two days off, another five days of chemotherapy and two weeks off.

The cycle is repeated and then he will require a form of radiotherapy which is only available in either Holland or America at a cost of between �15,000 and �18,000.

His family have been told there was a possibility the NHS may not pay. This prompted his mum to launch a fundraising campaign which the Journal is supporting.