Youngsters have shown their support for a friend in need.

Eight year olds Harry Parsons and Hadleigh Alexander-Smith, who are classmates at Shears Green junior school in Northfleet, walked more than nine miles to help cancer sufferer Stacey Mowle.

Both Harry and Hadleigh went to the infants school with Stacey, also eight, before her illness forced her to leave.

Stacey, who lives in Trafalgar Road, Gravesend, suffers from relapsed neuroblastoma and her family need to raise £500,000 for specialist treatment in the US.

It was Harry’s idea to do the sponsored walk from Gravesend to Dartford and knowing Hadleigh – who lives in Springhead Park, Northfleet – already had two walks for Stacey under her belt, he invited his chum to join him.

Harry’s mum, Teresa Carlow, 48, accompanied them. She said: “There wasn’t a whinge between them. Somebody asked me afterwards whether the kids were tired or me.

“They were still bouncing at the end and wanted to look around Dartford market but I just wanted a beer!”

The trio set off from Harry’s home he shares with his mum in Trosley Avenue, Gravesend, and walked to his dad’s home in Highfield Road, Dartford. There were pit-stops along the route, including much-needed refuelling at the Hot Rod Diner in Northfleet and McDonald’s in Greenhithe, and they crossed the finishing line in three and a half hours.

Once all the money is collected, Harry and Hadleigh hope to have raised more than £400 for Stacey.

“Harry just said to me he wanted to do something for charity and I suggested raising money for Stacey,” said Ms Carlow.

“He just wants Stacey to get better and to come back to school.”

Harry and Hadleigh’s walk was part of a week of fundraising activities which amassed around £3,000 for the appeal.

Other Just4Stace events included a bowling day at AMF Bowling, Gravesend, a pampering evening at the Manor Hotel in Singlewell and an online auction.

To add to Harry and Hadleigh’s total, go to www.justgiving.com/HarryJParsons.