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A Dorset House School pupil has raised more than £5,000 for a hospital charity as he prepares to take on a 10k run at the end of the month.

Rocco Heggie, a year-six pupil at the Bury school, was born with a extreme cleft lip and palate and has received support from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) since he was a baby.

When the latest lockdown was announced Rocco decided he wanted to do something to make a difference and decided to raise money for GOSH.

On January 31 he will be doing a 10k run around Cowdray Park, close to his family home in Easebourne.

Rocco Heggie is doing a 10k run around Cowdray Park to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital

Rocco said: “I want to be able to give back to Great Ormond Street as I have been a patient since I was born and the cleft team have helped me in so many ways, and I wanted to say a big thank you.

“I hope the money I raise will help support other children!”

Rocco, who is a member of Midhurst Rugby Club, has been training for his run during the lockdown with help from his parents, Iain and Amelia, and his older siblings, Coco and Bruno.

Amelia and Iain said: “We are so thrilled that Rocco decided to embark on this charity 10km run.

Rocco Heggie doing some night training for his 10k run around Cowdray Park to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital

“He decided to raise money for GOSH on his own accord which makes it much more poignant.

“He has always been a determined young man from an early age, despite the challenges he has had to face, and having a personal experience has meant he can really relate to this amazing cause.

“Rocco has been so lucky to have access, for free, to the best treatment, and will do for as long as he needs it.

“We sometimes think about what life would have been like had he been born in a poorer country, as his parents, we find this hard to contemplate.

Rocco Heggie training for his 10k run for Great Ormond Street Hospital with his brother Bruno Heggie

“We are so grateful for the support and care that Rocco has received from this amazing hospital.”

Laura Savory, deputy director of community fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: “On behalf of everyone at GOSH Charity, I would like to say a huge thank you to Rocco for his incredible fundraising efforts – all the money raised will make such a difference to seriously ill children from across the UK who are treated at GOSH.

“Rocco’s generosity is inspiring and means so much at a time when the hospital needs the charity’s support more than ever.

“We would like to wish Rocco all the best of luck for his 10km run.”

11-year-old Dorset House pupil to take on 10k run for Great Ormond Street Hospital