A WOMAN who has overcome cancer will take her fundraising efforts to New York next month - with a special message from North Yorkshire.

Jean Williams, 71, suffered with cancer for almost 12 years which resulted in her having a double mastectomy, followed by a serious infection which required treatment in intensive care.

Jean, along with her husband Alan, 70, and 39-year-old Patrick Dunlop - a fundraiser and First Responder for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, will travel to New York in November to take part in the city’s marathon.

While there, they will meet the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, and present him with a handwritten and sealed message from Lord Mayor of York Cllr Keith Orrell.

Alan said: “The message is secret. We don’t know what’s in it, but it’s handwritten by the Lord Mayor of York. We don’t want to know."

He said: “Macmillan looked after us for a long time and we feel we need to pay them back.

“We just sat down and decided we wanted to do something with a twist.”

Previously, the team has taken part in a coast to coast cycle ride, and with November’s marathon Alan, Jean and Patrick hope to raise between £15,000 and £20,000 for Macmillan.

Alan said they were less concerned with targets for the actual run time.

He said: “It’s Jean’s story and she wants to show she’s still physically capable.

“It’s a challenge, there’s no point doing anything for charity unless it’s a challenge. We’ve booked a table for 9pm that night for dinner, so as long as we make that, that’s all that matters.”

Alan, who lives with Jean in Harrogate, said the couple would also present messages and gifts from children in a cancer ward at Leeds General Infirmary to young cancer patients at Ronald McDonald House in the city.

He said: “We went to the LGI and some of them just think they’re poorly, but you see teenagers who know a bit more and it’s heartbreaking. That’s why we’re doing it, not for the ego, just to pay something back.We’re lucky, we came through it.”

Alan said: “I’m an emotional wreck. They say if you don’t cry, you don’t care, but I don’t make excuses for my tears. I think about what it was like in the dark days and if we can help people through their own dark days, that’s what it’s all about, and the other two hold me together.”

Visit patricks39steps.co.uk