CANCER battler Jimmy Egan is pounding the streets in an effort to help other sufferers.

Jimmy, 47, of Queen's Square, Hoddlesden, is planning to do the 13-mile Great North Run, from just outside Newcastle to South Shields, on October 10 to raise funds for the Lymphoma Association.

He will be joined by his friends and training partners, David Taylor, 56, of Kentmere Drive, Feniscowles, Blackburn, and Andrew Malpass, 28, of Nook Terrace, Blackburn.

Jimmy is in remission from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer which caused him to develop tumours in his neck and chest.

He finished treatment by chemotherapy and radiotherapy three years ago and hopes he has beaten the illness, although he still needs check-ups every six months.

Jimmy, who has two children and a granddaughter, said: "Now I have recovered, or hopefully recovered, I want to help others.

"I used to do a bit of training before, but I was out of it for about 14 months altogether because of the treatment.

"It really takes a long time to get through it.

"I'm hoping to do the race in under two hours."

Jimmy has already been promised sponsorship money from his employers, Akzo Nobel in Darwen, and is looking for more.

Anyone wanting to make a donation should contact 01254 706790.

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