The family of a brave schoolboy who is battling an aggressive brain tumour are taking on Glasgow's Santa Dash to raise vital funds for a cancer charity.

Six-year-old Cole Park has undergone major brain surgery and intensive courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after doctors discovered the mass in March.

The youngster spent several months in the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre with his mum Michelle Barrie, who says the staff became 'like a second family' as visiting was restricted due to Covid.

Now Michelle, 37, and Cole’s aunt, Lisa Park, 33, are planning to go the extra mile at the festive run to raise funds for the Beatson Cancer Charity, as well as pushing Cole around the course in his wheelchair if he’s well enough on the day.

Cole, who is now continuing his treatment at home, visited Glasgow Green along with his mum and aunt to inspect the route and meet the charity’s mascot Bella the Bee.

The event will return for the first time in three years on Sunday, December 11 around Glasgow Green.

Cole posed in one of the new t-shirts that will be given to runners, all of which are more environmentally friendly than the previous single-use Santa suits.

The t-shirts feature a belt and button design on the front and are included in the run’s registration fee of £15 for adults and £5 for young people under 16.

Glasgow Times: Cole ParkCole Park (Image: Supplied)

Michelle, who shaved off her hair in a show of solidarity with her son, said: “We want to take part to raise sponsorship for Beatson Cancer Charity in recognition of everything the hospital has done for Cole.

"I can’t praise the surgeons and staff there highly enough, everyone has been amazing. They kept me going when I was struggling on a bad day and became like family to all of us.

“Every Friday, Cole got to drive a wee police car into his radiotherapy sessions and he loved that. Meanwhile they gave me vouchers for the cafe while I waited for him during his treatment.

"When he was discharged from hospital, the staff threw him a wee party. He misses them all so much.”

The Glasgow Times previously told how Cole, from Kirkintilloch, was invited to Ibrox to be a VIP mascot and was led onto the pitch by Gers captain James Tavernier.

A recent MRI scan showed a reduction in some of the tumours on his brain and spine, however, doctors have told the family that Cole will have to endure a further 11 months of chemotherapy before they ultimately know how successful the treatment is going to be.

Runners who register to take part in the festive family fun run can raise sponsorship for the charity of their choosing, while profits from the Glasgow City Council-run event will be split between the Beatson Cancer Charity and the Lord Provost's Children's Fund.

Glasgow’s lord provost Jacqueline McLaren said: “The Santa Dash is such a happy uplifting event which raises funds for good causes in the run up to Christmas.

"Everyone, like Cole’s mum, will want to raise funds for a charity which is close to their own heart. And for the first time in three years, everyone can physically get together to take part in the festive run while showing their support for charities doing amazing work.

“I’m really looking forward to the big day and encourage anyone who is interested in taking part to register as soon as possible as places are filling up fast."

Glasgow's first Santa Dash took place in 2006 and quickly became a firm favourite in the city's events calendar. It attracted 8000 runners in 2018 and has raised more than £350,000 for various charities since the first starter's gun was fired. The pandemic prevented the event from taking place in recent years.

Register and find out more about the Santa Dash at glasgow.gov.uk/santadash.

Registration closes at 4pm on Friday, December 9.

Anyone keen to raise sponsorship for Beatson Cancer Charity can do so via their JustGiving page - Glasgow Santa Dash 2022.