TWO schools attended by cancer conquerors Emma Rudd and Laura Millar have raised life-saving cash for the hospital that treated their star pupils.

The girls, now students of Leigh St Mary's RC High, Astley, are both former Twelve Apostles' RC Junior School, Nel Pan Lane, Leigh, girls.

This week the staff and pupils from both schools got together to present over £1,000 for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury.

The money, £900 from the senior school and £155 from the junior, was raised from non-uniform days and other events on Red Nose Day.

Now the girls' mums Carol Rudd and Geraldine Jones want to thank the head teachers of both schools, Mr Michael Farrimond at Twelve Apostles and Mr Alan Bell, and their staff and pupils for all their kindness during their daughters' illnesses.

Mrs Rudd, of Taunton Avenue, Leigh, said: "Both schools have been absolutely fabulous and supportive throughout, even sending little gifts to show the girls they were not forgotten."

Both Laura, 16, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma 18 months ago and Emma, 14, with bone cancer 15 months ago, are well on the road to recovery.

And to prove it in August they took part in a Macmillan M60 march with 2,000 other supporters to help others fighting the disease.

Emma was diagnosed with cancer in her knee just two weeks before Christmas 1999 and is lucky that surgeons managed to save her leg.

But she has now learned to walk again with replacement titanium parts.

She had been complaining of soreness for some time but it was put down to growing pains. Later X-rays at Leigh Infirmary revealed a tumour.

She was transferred to Wigan and then Pendlebury for chemotherapy and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham where the joint and bones were rebuilt.

This week Emma, who had to learn to walk again, was back at Pendlebury for a monthly check-up and results showed she was cancer free.

Carol said: "She faces five years of tests before she is given the all clear. Every month is a worrying time and it's a relief when the X-rays are over."

Laura's illness was discovered after she was kicked in the stomach by her baby sister Ellie while on holiday.

She was taken to Wigan with suspected appendicitis, but a stomach tumour was discovered.

She underwent an emergency operation and was transferred to Pendlebury where she was on a ventilator in intensive care for five days.

Mum Geraldine Jones, of Rushton Avenue, said: "Macmillan and the physiotherapists at Pendlebury were brilliant, so all the family joined the walk to help pay them back.

"Laura is now absolutely fine and working hard for her GCSE exams in summer. She eventually wants to be a children's nurse."