A CANCER survivor raised almost £2,000 by running around Worcester for 24 hours non-stop.

Andrew Graham set off from outside the Cathedral at 5pm on Friday, March 20 and ran 108 miles until 5pm the next day to raise money for Worldwide Cancer Research.

The 51-year-old communications consultant, who was diagnosed with throat and mouth cancer in 2002 and had parts of his mouth and jaw removed, said the experience had been gruelling but rewarding.

“I have had some amazing experiences in life and this one is right up there from a personal perspective,” he said.

Although a careless driver ran over his right big toe just six miles in and he developed a particularly nasty blood blister on his right foot, Mr Graham powered on and completed the challenge, which took him into St John’s, up Malvern Road and along the bypass up to Bath Road before running down to Diglis, along the river to The Tything and Bilford Road.

Continuing into Blackpole and Warndon, Mr Graham passed Worcestershire Royal Hospital, down Newtown Road, City Walls Road and back to the Cathedral.

He said the most challenging parts of the run were the steep inclines of Rainbow Hill, Carrington Bridge and Castle Street as well as the cold winds between 1am and 6am, but was thankful for the “amazing” support he had received from friends, family and fellow members of the Black Pear Joggers running group.

“I had smiling faces, constant route checks, Black Pears popping up all over the route for selfies and just to shout encouragement,” he said.

“Ian Wild, Lucie Lu and Jeremy Jones added musical motivation through the city with the old iPhone and megaphone combination which had me laughing as I ran along, and the bemused bar dwellers laughing as they wondered what the hell was going on.

“This hit-squad also kept me motivated and in anticipation of the next place they would jump out from with that megaphone and even offered remedial physio when I cramped.

“I will thank each and every one of those involved personally, who made the Perdiswell Check Point a welcome point of motivation and respite and even took it in turns to accompany me on a section of the run – your company kept me sane.”

Later this year Mr Graham is planning on taking part in the London Marathon as well as running the entire length of Great Britain from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

To donate to Mr Graham email arg@grahamconsultancy.com or text DODS88 £3 to 70070 to donate £3.