A PENSIONER fighting cancer has completed a marathon in his own garden to raise £3,500 for our NHS.

Jim Edbrook finished 39 days of running around his garden in Nelson Road, Rayleigh after reaching 26 miles.

The 77-year-old is having ongoing treatment to fight a cancerous tumour and wanted to thank the staff for looking after him.

Mr Edbrook, who has been self-isolating since the UK lockdown began, originally wanted to raise £2,000 for Southend Hospital but has now raised more than £3,500.

He said: “It feels absolutely wonderful, a lot of satisfaction and I’m very proud of myself.

“I’m ten weeks on my own here and it’s really kept me going, I’ve had some wonderful support, I can’t thank everyone enough.

“I had chemo last week and it’s no different from one week to the next.

“When Southend was closed some three weeks ago, I got into the car park all the nurses came out and clapped for me, all the way into the building.

“I just let it go, it was an absolute tear-jerker. I’ll never forget that blood test I went for.

“It’s a truly wonderful memory.”

Mr Edbrook had been putting golf balls into a box for every lap of his garden, so that he could calculate when he had reached the distance he was aiming for each day.

He has also been recording video blogs of his daily progress and sharing them on his Facebook page.

Mr Edbrook’s neighbours have been supporting him, watching from over their fences at a safe distance to cheer him on.

He also created himself a makeshift finishing line which he broke through on his final lap on Tuesday.

He added: “Some have asked what I’m going to do next, I think I might have a little break.

“But it’s really helped get me through this, I don’t know what I would have done without it.

“I’d like to thank my film director Andy who has put on a wonderful show.

“Loads of people have contributed to Facebook.

“I was told I had to do it, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but somehow all those donations came through.

“If anyone wants a last opportunity, please go to my JustGiving page.

“It’s been wonderful and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and to everyone who supported me, thank you.”

The Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity have thanked Mr Edbrook for his support.

Donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/jim-edbrook