A YORK boy who has suffered with cancer has said his own little thank you by handing over hundreds of pounds to a children's charity.

Three-year-old Curtis Thirlway presented a cheque for £483 to Candlelighters to say thank you for his recovery after developing neuroblastoma, cancer of the nerves, when he was 18 months old.

Curtis, of Chatsworth Terrace, off Poppleton Road, is now in remission and, according to his granny Elaine White, is doing really well and enjoying playschool.

The money was raised by friend of the family, Jim Clelland, who ran the Great North Run in September.

Now Curtis has handed over the money, helped by his mum, Marie.

Mrs White said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be able to be able to put something back into the system and, hopefully, help other children with cancer."

Curtis was first diagnosed at York District Hospital and underwent an operation and seven chemotherapy sessions at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

Mrs White added: "We are so pleased that Curtis is doing so well. Everyone did so much to make him better again. We will all continue to raise money wherever we can to help this vital cause."

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, October 27, 2001