A son from Salford is gearing up to tackle his first marathon in aid of the Salford radiotherapy centre appeal in support of his father who is currently being treated at The Christie.

Mark Nicholson, 43, from Eccles is running the Edinburgh marathon on Sunday 23rd May and his partner Paula and their two children Jack, 13, and Lucy, 10, are travelling to Scotland to cheer him on.

The store manager at ISG Technology said; "I have found the training hard going but was determined to see it through. I was originally running the Edinburgh Marathon to prove to myself that I could run 26 miles without passing out but then thought why not raise money for a good cause in the process.

"I read in my local paper, the Salford Advertiser, about the appeal to raise money for the new radiotherapy centre in Salford and, as my dad is being treated at The Christie at the moment, my mind was made up."

Mark's dad, Jack Nicholson, 77, is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the leading cancer centre for bowel cancer.

He said; "Since my dad was diagnosed I now know how beneficial this radiotherapy centre will be to cancer patients who live in this area. This is my way of saying thank you and helping this appeal in my home city of Salford.

"I want to say a special thank you to Paula for supporting me through my training and everyone who has sponsored me so far."

To sponsor Mark visit www.justgiving.com/mark-nicholsonrunningforchristies

The Christie charity joined forces with the Salford Advertiser to help raise £250,000 towards the new £17million Christie radiotherapy centre being built at Salford Royal.

The radiotherapy centre will be the second in a network of centres where cancer patients from Salford, Wigan and Bolton will be able to access first class radiotherapy treatments from Christie experts, but much closer to home. Building work has started and the centre will open in 2011. The first radiotherapy centre opened in Oldham in March 2010.

As well as treating patients for the most common cancers like breast, bowel and lung, this special development will also be a national centre of excellence for treating brain conditions. It will be equipped to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery, a highly specialised neurosurgical technique for brain cancers - making it one of only a handful of such centres in the UK. Currently patients from Greater Manchester have to travel to Sheffield for this treatment.

Community fundraising officer at the Christie charity, Ste Anderson, said; "The best of luck to Mark in the Edinburgh Marathon. The money he raises really will make a difference to cancer patients living in this area."

To make a donation visit our dedicated webpage www.christies.org/salford, ring 0161 446 3988 (mention you are donating in response to the Salford Advertiser appeal) or send a cheque made payable to "The Christie, Salford Advertiser" to Salford Advertiser Christie Appeal, The Christie charity, The Christie, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX.

Meet the news team

For more information please contact: