A FAMILY has been praised by David Cameron for raising hundreds of thousands of pounds after their son died while battling side effects caused by treatments for a cured brain tumour.

Abingdon couple Sally and Andy Hall set up their Blue Skye Thinking charity after five-year-old Skye, who died last August, was diagnosed with the condition.

Today they will be honoured with a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister having raised £200,000 for research into childhood cancer treatments.

Their ‘Loom to the Moon’ campaign saw hundreds of people from across the UK make and send over sections of loom band with a donation, breaking a world record for the longest loom band. Mr Hall also took on a hike from Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, to the highest point on the Isle of Skye in Scotland as part of a new fundraising effort, 2Skye4Skye.

He was presented with the Points of Light award as he reached the highest point, making himself and Mrs Hall the 307th and 308th winners.

They said: “Skye was not our child to keep but he was our child to share and winning this award has enabled us to do that, for which we are eternally grateful.”

Witney MP Mr Cameron said: “Skye was a wonderful young boy who inspired hundreds of people to join in his challenge to ‘loom to the moon’. Sally and Andy have shown incredible strength in continuing Skye’s work following his death.”

The Points of Light award is given to outstanding individual volunteers.