IN the same month he completed an ambitious fund-raising swim, Soham youngster Liam Fairhurst won £50,000 for a children s cancer charity on a new television show. In the first of new ITV show Million Pound Give-away, 11-year-old Liam, who finished trea

IN the same month he completed an ambitious fund-raising swim, Soham youngster Liam Fairhurst won £50,000 for a children's cancer charity on a new television show.

In the first of new ITV show Million Pound Give-away, 11-year-old Liam, who finished treatment for cancer a year ago, gave an emotional pitch to a panel of millionaires to secure funding for a new holiday home for children with cancer, run by the CLIC Sargent charity.

Liam's appearance on the show, which was filmed on December 13 and screened on Tuesday, preceded his ambitious swim on December 22. He swam 64 25-metre lengths of the pool at Cambridge's Next Generation gym.

"We raised £13,500 during the swim and with tax relief and the money from the show, the total comes to about £64,000," said Liam.

The £50,000, given by millionaire panellists on the ITV show, including novelist Jeffrey Archer and entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, will go towards funding a three-bedroom, fully-equipped, luxury caravan in Filey, Yorkshire.

Liam's efforts are in memory of his friend Jack Wilkinson, who lost his

battle to bladder cancer in August 2006, age 12.

Mark Fairhurst, Liam's father, said: "Appearing on this show has been the icing on the cake for Liam, who has personally worked hard to raise over £13,000 for CLIC Sargent since his friend Jack lost his battle with cancer last year.

"Jack and Liam became very good friends while undergoing treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge - being of a similar age they were able to support each through their long and difficult journey.

"Jack's death has been devastating for Liam and at least now he has something tangible in his memory."

Len Collingwood, holiday services manager at CLIC Sargent, said: "Holidays are a vital part of what we do and the difference they can make to a family's life is invaluable.

"We are so grateful to Liam, because of his courage and determination many more children with cancer and their families will benefit."

- Tickets are still on sale for Matt Shaw's The Meat Loaf Show benefit gig in aid of the CLIC Sargent charity, which is at The Junction, Cambridge.

The concert was postponed due to illness, but Matt Shaw and his band The Neverland Nemesis have confirmed they will perform on January 24.

It is hoped that the concert will also see appearances from footballer Lee Sharpe, Mylene Klass and Michelle Gayle, and the evening will be compered by Julian Bennett, fashion guru of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy UK.

Special ticket prices are available for advance bookings, including a student rate of £6.40 (with a valid NUS card), family of four tickets for £25, and a special rate of £5 to people who have already donated to the Liam's Mile campaign. Standard tickets are £8.50 in advance and £10 on the door. Tickets are available on 01223 511511.

INFO: For further information about CLIC Sargent please log on to www.clicsargent.org.uk or call 0845 120 44 42. For more information about Liam's fund-raising efforts for CLIC Sargent please log on to www.justgiving.com/liamsmile