A 16-year-old pupil from Falconwood has marked the milestone of raising £300,000 for cancer research by receiving the Jack Petchey Award.

Jonjo Heuerman, who attends Harris Academy in Falconwood, decided to start raising money at the age of nine after his grandmother died of bowel cancer.

A huge fan of Bobby Moore (who died of the same illness), Jonjo wanted to donate to The Bobby Moore Fund within Cancer Research UK.

After he was nominated by his teachers for reaching the staggering fundraising total, Jonjo was honoured at the Jack Petchey Achievement Awards ceremony, which recognises schoolchildren for outstanding charity work.

"I am proud of what I have achieved," Jonjo told News Shopper."

He added: "I never expected to get such an award. I started off at small events but never have I ever thought it was going to get this far. It's amazing."

After losing his grandmother in 2009, Jonjo organised his first event - a walk from Wembley Stadium to The Champions Statue outside Upton Park - West Ham United's old stadium.

"When nan passed away I didn't understand what had happened at first, but as I got a bit older I thought 'I need to raise some money'," he said.

When the three-day challenge had finished, Jonjo told News Shopper he was surprised by the number of people asking him: "What are you going to do next?"

So, the then nine-year-old led charity bike rides, dribbled a football from Southend United to West Ham United and held charity balls each year.

While juggling his studies and fundraising, Jonjo is not sure how he manages to fit everything in - but he insists his schoolwork does not suffer.

With the £250 he received in the Jack Petchey prize, he wants to donate the cash to his school's anti-bullying campaign, which sets up a board of students to tackle bullying in the school. He may even join the board himself next year.

As his A Levels approach, Jonjo is not sure what he wants to do in the future. But is certain he will keep raising money.

"When I was younger I set myself a fundraising target but I don't need to do that anymore. I love doing what I do and I take every day as it comes."