A MAN who battled blood cancer will take on Southend's half marathon to show survivors they can bounce back.

Andy Sterry, 41, from Thorpe Bay Gardens, Thorpe Bay, will take on the 13 mile challenge a year to the day since be began chemotherapy.

His gruelling treatment for lymphoma came to an end seven months ago, and Mr Sterry has since been given the all clear.

He has now turned his attentions to raising thousands of pounds for charity Delete Blood Cancer UK.

Mr Sterry said: “Luckily I was in remission after just a handful of treatments, and have since made a full recovery, have my hair back, and to date have tested clear.

“The run will be exactly a year to the day I started treatment and is my way of getting my fitness back as well as to show people that you can bounce from these illnesses.”

The half marathon, starting at East Beach, in Shoebury, will take place on Sunday, June 12.

Life changed for dad-of-two Mr Sterry when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a common cancer affecting the lymph nodes.

However, he believes he was lucky to have escaped the worst side effects of chemotherapy and come out the other side.

Mr Sterry said: “I wasn’t diagnosed really early. I had a full-on job, I was tired all the time, I have twin boys and travelled to Singapore every six to eight weeks. From diagnosis to treatment there was just 15 days.

“Chemotherapy wasn’t too bad for me, I wasn’t sick. But there is lots of things that people don’t tell you about it. Your head hurts when your hair falls out and you get incredible insomnia. The bigger thing though, is that you lose normality.

“The things you take for granted get taken away from you. It's silly things like not being able to eat red meat. The world just changes.”

Having completed three full marathons before his diagnoses, Mr Sterry hopes his latest challenge will help raise awareness of Delete Blood Cancer UK, which urges people to save the life of someone with blood cancer to registering as blood stem cell donors.

He added: “Training is going well so far, just a little injury but I think it’s old age more than anything else.

“I initially just wanted to finish the race but as my strength has built up so has my competitive spirit. now I am hoping for a finish time under two hours.

“Completing the half marathon is a way of closing the door on that time of my life. it proves that I can do normal things again.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/sterryandfryatt.