A family whose son was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer has raised a staggering £1 million for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with the help of the London Marathon.

Awaiting confirmation of their son George’s diagnosis in 2017, when he was just four years old, Vicki and her husband James “Woody” Woodall created ‘George and the Giant Pledge’.

George endured a gruelling 14 rounds of chemotherapy, had part of his spine removed during a complex 10-hour surgery and, at one point, underwent proton therapy in the United States.

And during his treatment for a PNET soft tissue Ewing’s Sarcoma, his parents devoted everything they could into fundraising to support research into childhood cancer while supporting their other son Alex during a difficult time.

He now has a body brace fitted to help correct his spine's curvature and, following another clear scan, he's now been cancer-free for more than a year.

But after setting a highly ambitious target, George's family smashed it when mum Vicki crossed the finish line at the London Marathon on April 28.

It comes soon after dad Woody crossed completed the Brighton Marathon, with help from two-time Olympic Gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, a couple weeks earlier.

“Seeing all those young children with no hair and tubes coming out of them on our first visit to The Royal Marsden was truly heartbreaking,” Vicki said.

“Yet the thing that struck us the most was how many of those kids had a smile on their face.

“It was then that we decided to set up ‘George and the Giant Pledge’, because no child should ever have to have their childhood taken from them in this terrible way.”

George’s parents held auctions, raffles, marathons and quiz nights as they rallied support for The Royal Marsden’s largest fundraising event, The Banham Marsden March.

Supporters include comedian and television presenter Jack Whitehall, who donated proceeds from a special performance to the campaign.

“It’s been amazing to have so much support from everyone – friends, family, colleagues, even people we don’t know – to enable us to reach the £1 million mark,” Woody said.

“We’re so proud to be able to help The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity fund much-needed research into childhood cancer, and support other patients and families going through treatment.”

The money raised will go towards paediatric research and support for both children and their families.

This includes funding for a paediatric psychology, a consultant post in The Oak Paediatric Drug Development Unit and a research fellow who will work specifically in childhood sarcoma.

Antonia Dalmahoy, managing director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “Everyone at The Royal Marsden and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is incredibly thankful for Vicki and Woody’s tireless fundraising.

“To have raised £1 million during the most difficult time of their lives, all while caring for George and his big brother Alex, is nothing short of a miracle.”

You can visit the JustGiving page here.

To visit the campaign's website, click here.