A 19-year-old from Blackwood who overcame a three-year battle with leukaemia when he was seven is now organising a fundraising event to help others with the disease.

Macaulay Reed, from Cefn Fforest, was diagnosed with the illness when he was just a child and underwent three gruelling years of chemotherapy.

Mr Reed said he went into remission when he was 11 years old but continued to have weekly and monthly check-ups after he was given the all clear.

He said: “Obviously my childhood was a lot different to other childhoods. I didn’t do half the stuff other kids do but I am doing some of that now. It most definitely made me a stronger person because of it.

“Some days were draining. Obviously I lost all my hair from the chemo. I had up days and down days.”

Mr Reed, who has three brothers and a sister, is following in the footsteps of his dad Mark who fundraised for leukaemia charities following the diagnosis.

Mr Reed said: “I had great support from my family when I was ill. My dad was in the army at the time and he and some of the others in the army cycled from Cambridge to Cardiff to raise money. They raised £760.”

Now the shop assistant is planning a 10km run at Wembley in London in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research in September.

He is organising an evening of music and entertainment to drum up sponsorship money for the run and to raise awareness of the disease at the Top Club in Blackwood on Saturday, July 19.

Around 150 people are expected to attend the event, which costs £5 and will feature a DJ and photo booth.

Mr Reed’s first cousin, singer Kristian Reed, 21, will also be performing an acoustic set at the event.

Kristian said: “I sing for charity every year or sometimes run. This year is obviously quite important for the family.”