A brave patient has been nominated as a hospital’s hero to help start an annual charity walk.

Alex McCartney, who has been treated at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH, in Stanmore, has been chosen as this year’s Buttercup Walk Hero.

He will help start the 12th annual Buttercup Walk, on June 8, alongside Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock.

Next month's walk raises money for The RNOH Charity Redevelopment Appeal, and Alex originally had hoped to collect £500 in sponsorship, but has smashed his target and has raised £5,000.

The ten-year-old was admitted to the hospital, in Brockley Hill, in January this year after being diagnosed with a bone tumour in his left arm and underwent surgery to remove the affected bone, which was replaced with a titanium prosthesis.

He said: “It’s really amazing that so many people have helped me raise all this money and I want to thank the doctors and nurses who helped me get better, especially Mr Skinner.

“I’m very excited to be the Buttercup Walk Hero and it is going to be great to start the Buttercup Walk with an Olympic medallist.”

So far, more than 300 people have signed up to take part in the event, which will include family activities and live music.

The redevelopment appeal aims to raise £15 million to pay for additional facilities and equipment for the hospital which is currently undergoing £90million redevelopment.

The charity's director of fundraising Rosie Stolarski said: “Alex is a very brave ten-year-old who is such an inspiration, and has made a remarkable recovery.

“We are delighted to announce that he has been nominated as this year’s Buttercup Walk Hero.

“We are extremely grateful to all his family and friends for sponsoring Alex and the money he has raised will make a real difference to future patients at the RNOH.”

There is still space for those interested in taking part in the walk to sign up for free and people can do so by clicking here.