School staff have remembered a student who died of cancer after complaining of a mysterious leg pain by running a 53-mile relay race.

Oliver Park, son of DJ Graeme Park, was just 18 when he died. He had been diagnosed in December 2021 with a melanotic malignant nerve sheath tumour, a type of sarcoma that is very rare and accounts for just 0.02% of all cancers.

Oliver died on March 22 2023 after being diagnosed with sarcoma, a type of cancer that targets the bones and then spreads to the soft tissue. He had complained of leg pain over a long period which tragically turned out to be a malignant nerve sheath tumour that was a type of sarcoma, one of the hardest cancers to treat.

In memory of Oliver, 65 teachers from his school - St Hilda's High - ran a huge 53-mile relay race on Saturday, May 4. The teachers raised more than ￡19,000, the Liverpool Echo reports. The money is to be donated to research and provide support to patients and families impacted by the rare type of cancer.

In a fundraiser to remember the student and beloved classmate, the school staff raced a gruelling route along the Liverpool and Wirral coastlines and two ferry crossings over the Mersey. The route finished with a lap around Albert Dock, through Liverpool ONE, and up to the Anglican Cathedral.

Organisers Gayle Gilbert and Ben Norton, said: "The outpouring of support from our staff, who collectively ran an incredible 53 miles, is a testament to the profound impact Oliver had on our school community. Raising over ￡19,000 for Sarcoma UK is a fitting tribute to Oliver's warmth and spirit but also to the bravery of Graeme, Jenny and Ben in sharing Oliver's story, so that others will benefit from our fundraising.

"We are immensely proud of our team's efforts and grateful to everyone who has helped us so far. We are keeping Oliver's memory alive by raising awareness of sarcoma and vital funds for research, ensuring that his legacy continues to help others."

Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Director of Communications and Fundraising at Sarcoma UK, said: “The remarkable ￡19,000 raised by the dedicated staff at St Hilda's School through their gruelling 53-mile relay run is an extraordinary accomplishment. This substantial contribution will help to fund life-changing sarcoma research and our support services. We are truly humbled by the teachers’ commitment to honouring Oliver's memory and undertaking such a major challenge to raise vital funds for Sarcoma UK”.

The Park family said: "Oliver had so much more love to offer to this world . He was a very brave warrior who fought until the end. We will love and miss him every single day for the rest of our lives. The power and love we feel from his guiding spirit is all around us and will provide us and his twin brother Ben the strength to carry on."