A teenager from Thaxted has already raised £1,000 after pledging to go on an 18-mile sponsored walk to raise money for a charity which helps people suffering from cancer.

Jade Skinner, 16, decided to take action after her mother Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer and now a group of some 20 young friends are joining her on the walk.

Jade is raising money for the Maggie’s Wallace Centre at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Mum Tracy, 45, will have to undergo seven months of chemotherapy, an operation and radiotherapy, during which time she will be supported by the centre, which offers practical and emotional support for people suffering with cancer, as well as their families and friends. The charity offers counselling and practical resources, such as a wig-fitting service.

Jade said: “I wanted to help the Maggie’s centre because I know it makes a difference for people. It’s run by volunteers and it’s not NHS funded and this money will mean something.”

Jade’s 18-mile walk will start at the Baptist Church in the centre of Saffron Walden on Saturday, September 3, before heading to Dunmow and eventually ending at the Farmhouse Inn in Monk Street on the outskirts of Thaxted.

Jade and about 12 of her friends will start the walk at 8.30am and aim to finish in about seven hours. Tracy plans to join in towards the end, if she is well enough to do so.

The family lives in the tiny village of Monk Street on the outskirts of Thaxted and Jade works in the Farmhouse pub where she has a collection tin and sponsorship forms available.

Tracy said: “I’ve had my dark days, especially waiting for the diagnosis, but we’re all handling it quite well. We’re fighting it.”

She said the family, including son Samuel, 14, and husband David, 47, “are all very positive and “just getting on with life”.

Tracy, who had her first chemo last Friday, said: “David has been fantastic. He’s my rock. All three of them are.”

She added: “I’ve been to the Maggie’s Wallace Centre a couple of times already,” she said. “It’s a haven, where everyone is going through the same thing. You can go and just have a cup of tea and some cake.”

Maggie’s Wallace is solely funded by charitable donations and anyone wishing to donate can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jade-Skinner24?utm_id=13.