LOCAL runner Steve Cox is on the last leg of an incredible fundraising mission aimed at thanking hospital staff who treated him for cancer.

Former parish council clerk Steve, who nows works for the NHS, set himself a target of £500 in sponsorship through a series of races. When he finishes his last one, the Tavy 7, he will have raised over six times that figure. Steve was scheduled to take part in the Newport marathon this weekend before closing his account with his ‘local race’ on October 31.

He said: ‘When I first started, I set myself a target of £500, which seemed reasonable as there have been a lot of people raising money through running marathons. But with all the money I’ve raised up to now, it’s going to be well over £3,000. People who I worked with 30 years ago have donated and I am overwhelmed and humbled at the support I have received.’

Steve was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in August 2019 and had seven rounds of chemotherapy to remove a tumour in his stomach. Although it was thought the treatment was successful, in April 2020 he had a relapse and the cancer was discovered in his brain and spine. He had a further seven rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant.

He said: ‘Throughout my treatment the care, support and kindness of all the team at Derriford Hospital has been amazing. I spent many weeks on Bracken Ward as an in-patient and many visits to Birch Ward as a day patient. I continue to remain under the care of the haematology team at Derriford Hospital.’

He is raising funds for the Plymouth and District Leukaemia Fund who help fund additional facilities at Derriford Hospital and research into blood cancer. The first outing of Team PDLF, made up of Steve, family members and friends, was the Rye 10 Miler and Rye 5 Miler in May. Steve and sister Annie ran the 10-mile distance while wife Christine and brother Andy ran the five miler. In June, Steve ran the 32-mile Dartmoor Discovery in five hours 20 minutes. Since then he has run 10 off road ‘fell’ races across Dartmoor. Sister Annie ran the Thames Meander Half Marathon in August and the Eton Dorney Marathon. Steve raised nearly £700 at a celebration on the traditional Wednesday of Goose Fair. The event was organised with the help of his friend Chris John from local business Stannary Brewing Co. and Deputy Mayor Ursula Mann. The event was a light-hearted family-friendly day and evening in the spirit of Goose Fair. The night was headlined by Winter Mountain, which is Cornish musician Joe Francis, supported by locals Seth Lakeman, Geoff Lakeman, and Greta Bondesson of Swedish band Baskery. Cllr Mann donated the trophy for first annual ‘wolf fleece’ contest inspired by the many wolf fleeces sold and worn at various Goose Fairs over the years.

To make a donation to Team PDLF visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TeamPDLF