A TEENAGE leukaemia patient and his family have helped to raise more than £4,000 for a charity helping fellow cancer sufferers.

Sporty 14-year-old Harvey Gaydon has already returned to the tennis court and is looking forward to getting back to school seven months after a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

Harvey, from the Blackwell area of Darlington, needed the transplant in April after an extensive course of chemotherapy failed to cure his second bout of leukaemia.

The youngster, who attends the town’s Hummersknott School and Language College, was diagnosed with the disease aged seven, but suffered a relapse last November.

He had been due back at school in July but was advised to stay away following the swine flu outbreak.

Harvey has recently caught the bug and just recovered from its symptoms – but still hopes to return to the classroom after Christmas.

He is receiving private tuition and has started to take up his favourite sports activities.

He plays for Mowden Rugby Club and at New Blackwell Lawn Tennis Club.

Although he is not sufficiently recovered to play rugby, he has picked up his tennis racket again.

Harvey said: “I get tired quicker and I am weaker, but I feel very well generally.”

His immune system is still recovering from the radiotherapy and he must apply lots of suncream and watch what he eats.

His mother, Caroline, a teacher, said: “You learn to appreciate things you didn’t really do before.”

After the operation, Harvey spent a number of weeks in isolation but since his return to home has received support from family, friends and nursing staff.

His mother added: “The hospital prepared us very well and supported us all the way.

Staff made it is as easy as it could be.”

The family described the support they had received as “overwhelming”.

Harvey’s father, Stuart, who coaches tennis, said: “We would like to thank all the members of New Blackwell and Wellfield tennis clubs for all their support.

“Harvey’s friends have been amazing. For teenagers they come round on a weekly basis.

They really make an effort.

“All our friends have been amazing and a lot of people have made donations.”

The family, including Harvey’s 11-year-old brother, Rory, have raised £2,040 for the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary, a figure doubled by Barclays Bank.

Some of the money was raised when Stuart and Caroline’s band, Nightshift, played a gig at the Forum Music Centre, in Darlington.