A PROSTATE cancer survivor from Winsford is preparing for a gruelling run to raise awareness of the killer disease.

Gary Steele, of Cherry Crescent, is ready for the Great North Run half marathon on October 6 - and he is taking the surgeon who saved his life with him.

Pradip Javle, consultant surgeon and urologist at Leighton Hospital, will join Gary on the 13-and-a-half mile run. It is believed to be the first time this has happened.

Gary has been tirelessly campaigning for prostate cancer awareness, ever since his operation in July 1999 and he is chairman of Leighton Hospital's Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign and Support Group.

He said: "The main reason I'm doing this run is to raise awareness of our campaign, particularly with this being such a high profile event."

Gary is also dedicating the run to his dear friend Roy Nixon, from Manchester, who died of prostate cancer earlier this month after battling the disease for 12 years.

Mr Nixon, aged 57, was a fellow campaigner and was chairman of the northern branch of Prostate Cancer Awareness.

Prostate cancer is now the most common form of the disease in men and is expected to overtake lung cancer as the biggest killer.

Campaigners advise middle-aged men to get themselves checked with their GP.

If it is found early enough it can be cured and sufferers can continue to lead a normal life, as Gary is proving by running this race at the age of 62.

So far Gary has raised around £2,000 in sponsorship but he will push for more funds during September, which will be the campaign's awareness month.

He said: "The people of Winsford have been superb and the pubs and clubs have all taken in a sponsorship form and I would like to thank them for that."

If you would like to sponsor Gary or find out more about prostate cancer you can ring him on 01606 553097.

jpowell@guardiangrp.co.uk