A CANCER survivor has been hit with the devastating news that his sister has been diagnosed with leukaemia, vowing to raise cash for charity in her honour.

Tony Maynard, of Southend, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018 but overcame the illness and is now fighting fit.

However, his sister Nicole is battling acute lymphocytic leukaemia at just 18-years-old and is in and out of hospital as she has intense cancer treatment.

Now, 32-year-old Tony is set to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 3 to raise essential funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

He said: “The Teenage Cancer Trust have given my younger sister the positivity boost she needed when times were tough.

“She was back and forth to the hospital so much, when she should have been thriving in her teenage years, but the charity has provided entertainment, moral support and comfort to her and all of my family.

“As I myself had cancer a few years back, it has made my fight stronger and I’m really excited to smash this half marathon and raise some money for an important cause.”

Nicole was diagnosed with luekamia in February last year.

She is being treated on the Teenage Cancer Trust funded unit at University College London Hospital.

The charity has provided care and emotional support to her through dedicated nurses.

Teenage Cancer Trust’s youth support coordinators, who work on the unit, have also been hosting activities to help take her mind off treatment and offered optimism throughout the gruelling process.

Nicole turned 18 while on treatment, but the charity made it special for her by putting on birthday celebrations, which is something the Maynard family are very grateful for.

So far, Tony has raised over £350 and hopes to raise money in the final days before the race.

The money raised will now be used to fund specialist hospital units, nurses and youth workers across the UK that provide age-appropriate care and emotional support.

To find out how to apply for next year’s half marathon, visit - www.teenagecancertrust.org/get-involved/charity-challenges/charity-running-challenges or click this link.