THE parents of four-year-old boy battling leukaemia have raised more than £15,000 to combat children’s cancer.

Matt and Suzanne Smith, who are both teachers at the Cotswold School, staged the Benjamin Ball.

Their son Benjamin is currently receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Matt and Suzanne, along with lifelong friends, David and Kelly Reed were hosts to a charity event to raise money for The Emily Kent Unit, paediatric oncology at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and CLIC Sargent, the Children’s Cancer Charity.

Mr Smith said: “The evening to say the least was a huge success, with a huge £15,500 raised.

“That combined with the £4,200 that we, along with the team raised running the Cheltenham Half Marathon gives a total just shy of £20,000!

“A fantastic amount.

“We want to thank all of those people who came on the night and to all those people who donated prizes for the auction and the tombola.”

The evening involved a luxury tombola, a live auction, hosted by Taylor and Fletcher and Adrian Cannon, a silent auction, live band with ‘Raise the Roof’ and dancing until the early hours.

Those who donated prizes for the evening included: Aston Martin, Sibling Gin, Jade Holland Cooper, The Lucky Onion Group, Cheltenham Race Course, Dunkertons Cider, Superdry, Luke 1977, Worcester Cricket Club, Warwickshire Cricket Club, Majestic Wine, Elan Spa at The Greenway, Chapel Spa, Wayne Maxwell Designs, Alastair Currill Photography, Venture Photography, Lords of The Manor, Sandford Parks Lido, Jockey Sam Twiston Davie.