A husband has raised more than £13,500 for a charity appeal at Southend Hospital following his wife's cancer diagnosis.
Dan Boughtwood, originally from New Zealand, now living in Leigh, took on the fundraising challenge after his wife Hanna was diagnosed with a viral cancer linked to HPV in late 2024.
The disease led to an intensive six-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy beginning in March this year.
The care received by Hanna inspired Mr Boughtwood, who is not an avid runner, to participate in this year's Southend Half Marathon in aid of the Spotlight Radiotherapy Appeal.
Mr Boughtwood said: "The radiotherapy team were just incredible, they were fast, efficient, and so kind.
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"We were lucky to have such amazing support from our family - but I kept thinking how awful it must be for those that don’t have that same support."
Despite a calf injury, the father-of-three trained for the event, drawing strength from his wife's positivity and the cheers of his children on the day.
He successfully crossed the finish line, raising a significant amount for the cause.
Beyond the fundraising, Mr Boughtwood also aims to bring attention to the personal impact of a cancer diagnosis.
He said: "It’s not always easy to talk about, sometimes people don’t know what to say or dismiss it as something common, but every case is deeply personal.
"It was to us and having someone ask how Hanna was doing and listening meant a lot."
Led by Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation, the Spotlight Radiotherapy Appeal aimed to raise £600,000 for advanced radiotherapy equipment at Southend Hospital.
The appeal surpassed its target earlier this year, after a strong wave of community support.
Emma Wynne-Morgan, chair of Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation, added: "Dan’s effort and generosity are nothing short of inspirational.
"His story highlights the very real impact our radiotherapy services have on families — and why this appeal is so important.
"We’re incredibly grateful to him and to everyone who supported his journey."
