A MAN whose family has been devastated by cancer has run 1,000km in 100 days to raise awareness of about the disease's symptoms.

Publisher Steve Worsnop, of Topcliffe, near Thirsk, said he completed the epic challenge to encourage people to get checked out.

The 56-year-old veteran runner said he had been inspired to run after his father-in-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January last year, a month before his aunt died of lung cancer. Then in March, his brother was diagnosed with bowel cancer and in September his mother was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.

He said: “We just couldn’t take it in.

"She had been treated for a bowel ulcer and was assured that it was nothing more than that. "However, once the abscess was treated she had a scan and the cancer was discovered."

Mr Worsnop said he had been on a cruise with his wife and daughter when he was told his mother's cancer had spread to her liver and lungs and immediately announced he intended to run 1,000 km in 100 days, running his first 10km that day on the treadmill on the ship.

He then went on to run 10km daily, completing final run while on holiday in Las Vegas.

Mr Worsnop said: "Although I am there for them I feel useless.

"I decided that I just had to do something to help raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer, especially bowel cancer and prostate cancer, as far too many people are diagnosed too late when their chances of survival are much lower.

"My family told me I was mad, but I was seeing first-hand the difference in outcomes between being diagnosed in time and being diagnosed too late, and knew I had to do my bit to highlight this."

Nine out of ten people diagnosed with bowel cancer survive for more than five years if they are diagnosed at an early stage, compared to seven per cent of those diagnosed at a late stage.

Mr Worsnop has also raised more than £750 for the Beating Bowel Cancer and Prostrate Cancer UK charities, which supporting cancer patients and their families.

Paula Guanaria, of Beating Bowel Cancer, said: “We can’t thank Steve enough for all he's done in the area to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and funds for the charity."

For details about symptoms, visit beatingbowelcancer.org or prostatecanceruk.org