BIG-HEARTED Cherries’ fan Lewis Goodenough proudly wore his AFC Bournemouth shirt while he ran five kilometres along Bournemouth’s seafront for three worthy causes.

The 11-year-old pupil at Upton Junior School in Poole was among fundraisers who took part in an annual pier to pier charity event for local charities; Lewis-Manning Hospice, Forest Holme and Julia’s House.

Showing his support for his favourite team, Lewis ran from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier and back, raising £135.

When the Cherries found out, they invited him to Seaward Stadium to meet manager Lee Bradbury and player Steve Fletcher who added to his sponsorship. Lewis said: “I wanted to raise money for the hospices as I thought about all the patients that need to be cared for.

“I also wanted to make my favourite football team proud by wearing their shirt while doing it.”

Maria Tidy, funding-raising manager at Lewis-Manning Hospice, said: “Lewis should be really proud of himself, he ran five kilometres with an impressive finishing time and, better still, the money he raised will go straight back into caring for people in the local area.”

She added: “We are really grateful for the sponsorship raised by Lewis and other participants.

“We are building a state of the art facility to develop our existing services and provide a new bedded unit so we rely heavily on donations and support from members of the community.”

AFC Bournemouth is supporting the three hospices as part of the Football League’s official charity partnership with Help the Hospices.

Cherries’ manager Lee Bradbury said: “Lewis is a little star and an inspiration to all of us.

“I’ve visited each of the hospices which have benefited from his fundraising.

“It is fantastic that he chose to proudly wear his AFC Bournemouth shirt during the run.

“Hopefully we can repay his efforts with some serious success on the pitch this season.