RAISE a cup to a schoolboy who helped raise £640 for the breast unit where his mum was cared for four years ago.

Zach Bolus, aged 10, organised a coffee morning at High Lawn Primary School to raise money for the unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital, which is currently undergoing expansion.

When Zach was six, his mother, Sharon, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She received her last treatment there three years ago, and ever since, Zach has been fundraising.

The unit is expanding to an old building across the road and plans are in place for patient enhancements such as televisions, comfortable chairs and artwork.

Mal Sheridan, a healthcare assistant at the unit, said that the number of patients grew when another unit at Salford Royal closed two years ago.

Ms Sheridan, who has worked at the unit for 16 years, said: “It will be more comfortable for the patients because at the moment you’ve got all mixtures of patients going in at any one time.”

Over the past three years, Sharon has helped organise a series of ‘booby nights’ at Egerton Cricket Club and Bolton's Albert Halls to raise money for the unit, alongside other fundraisers for palliative care and dialysis units.

Together with older brother James, aged 14, and his two cousins, Zach has helped his mother with the fundraising efforts.

Sharon said: “Every time we’ve done a fundraiser they’ve always come with big eyes saying ‘give us your money’. That works well.”

After organising a cake sale at the school last year, Zach approached the school council, made up of pupils between years one and six, to hold a coffee morning.

School council leader Sarah Perkin, who was “very proud” of the pupils who organise the event, said that this was the first time the school opened up to the public for a fundraiser like this.

Sharon said that she asked people on Facebook to bake for the fundraiser and even some people she didn’t know contributed.

She said: “The day before I was going around everywhere picking up cakes to bring on the day, which was lovely. They did it just off their own backs.”

Zach helped sell cakes and set up the room for the event, which took place on March 23.

He said: “It was quite busy. Everybody was really nice to each other and it was just good. I liked it.

“It helps everybody who has cancer and I thought it would be nice to do it.”

Staff at the unit are organising their own fundraising night on Saturday at Farnworth Cricket Club in Lavender Road.

Ms Sheridan said: “Hopefully it’s going to be a good night and we’re going to raise lots of money for the ladies.”