A PAIR of best friends gave up their Saturday for a charity walk to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Ishan Kotecha, who goes to Priestmead School and Shaan Gera, a pupil at Alpha Prep, both in Harrow, strapped on their walking shoes and raised nearly £2,000 at he RBCRaceforkids challenge.

Ishan, 10, saw the poster for the event when on a trip to London with his family and asked Shaan, also 10, if he wanted to join.

They took part with their fathers - Sarju Kotecha and Sanjay Gera - at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Mother Minal Kotecha said: “It was all off their own back. They wanted to raise money by doing something fun.

“Ishan has seen his older sister Ria do charity work so he wanted to do the same. We are very proud of them and very impressed.

“The generosity people have shown has been brilliant. We never thought they’d raise £2,000.”

During the race, the boys wanted to run ahead but were slowed down by their fathers who wanted to walk the course.

Mrs Kotecha added: “I wanted to say thanks to everyone who supported them, they wanted to be example for other children and inspire people to follow in their footsteps.”