Cancer fundraiser 'shocked' by own diagnosis

Some of the dresses worn by Colin Burgin-Plews weighed more than 15kg (2st 4lbs)

A man who has raised more than £150,000 for cancer charities says he has "a long recovery ahead" after being diagnosed with the disease himself.

Colin Burgin-Plews, 56, from South Shields, is well known for running charity races in a big pink dress and other flamboyant outfits.

He was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, earlier this year and had surgery on 13 May in Newcastle.

Only the day before, he completed the Sunderland 10K, a race he has done many times and said "the people of the city really gave me strength".

Colin Burgin-Plews lost his mum to cancer two years ago, after many years of fundraising for cancer charities

"My mum passed away from cancer but despite raising so much money for cancer charities, I hadn't really thought about what it was like to be diagnosed," Mr Burgin-Plews said.

"But going into hospital and seeing the word cancer, it really hit me and waiting for the operation was just really hard."

Mr Burgin-Plews first wore a pink dress, with a matching headpiece, for a charity with a pink theme when he ran the Great North Run in 2014.

He has run that race several times since, along with the London Marathon and Sunderland 10K, for a number of different charities.

Colin Burgin-Plews says his treatment by the NHS has been "fantastic"

"Running the Sunderland 10K this year knowing I had cancer and was just hours from a huge operation was very hard, but the support was just fantastic," he said.

Mr Burgin-Plews has to rest for at least three months to recover from his operation and does not know yet if he will need further treatment.

He has a place for this year's Great North Run, but thinks that may be "a little too early" in his recovery.

"I wouldn't rule out the Great North Run 2025 though," he said.

"Whatever comes I'll face it, but I just love bringing joy to people, I love raising money so yes I'd like to think I'll be there."

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