AT what would have been his school leaving assembly, the friends of Thomas Cowley presented a cheque to his family for a charity that was close to his heart.

The 15-year-old from Rainford died suddenly last December from an undetected heart condition, as he recovered from surgery for Crohn’s disease.

Thomas had been keen to raise awareness about cancer, after it claimed the life of his aunt.

His friends, inspired by his passion, have continued to raise money through a series of events.

At the assembly, which Thomas would have attended, pupils handed over a cheque for more than £1,500 for Cancer Research to his family, including mother Anne Marie, brother William, his grandmother and grandfather Eileen and David Dunkley and uncle Anthony Cowley.

The family also collected £500 from pupils at Rainford County Primary.