A teenager has raised thousands of pounds for a charity which has helped him fight a rare form of cancer.

Rajan Chavda was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, which usually only affects older people, when he was 17.

After spending ten days in hospital after the diagnosis in October, the 18-year-old is now on medication and looking forward to university and leading a normal life.

Rajan, from Yeadon, has also been raising funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with special events at school and businesses in the area.

So far, the teenager has helped raise more than £3,000 with a Rag Week at Guiseley School and a charity curry night at Red Pepper, Otley.

His mother, Parvati Chavda, said her family’s world was changed when Rajan was diagnosed.

“When we found out we could not believe this was happening to us, Rajan being a healthy teenager. Our whole life seemed to turn upside down overnight,” she said.

“Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is a very rare condition for teenagers to have, as it only happens to the older generation. After spending 10 days in hospital, he is now on medication which controls the white blood cells not to multiply.

“This is not a cure, but being on the medication has given his life back. He is looking at universities and leading as normal a life as possible.”

During Rag Week, there were a host of activities including a non-uniform day, “splat the teacher”, a penalty shootout and “hire-a-sixth-former for a day”, which raised £2,000 for the cancer trust. The curry night raised £450 and, with other activities pushing the total above £1,000, the teenager has helped raised more than £3,000 overall.

A Teenage Cancer Trust representative also visited the school to talk about the charity and the work it does. It is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day.

It helps build specialist units within NHS hospitals, bringing young people together to be treated in a place designed just for them.

For more information, go to teenagecancertrust.org