A WIRRAL man took part in the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday and raised more than £500 for asbestos-related lung cancer research.

Stuart Hughes completed the course in two hours and five mins. He ran the 13.1 miles dressed head-to-toe in asbestos safety equipment for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, part of the British Lung Foundation. 

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable type of lung cancer.

He has raised £550 so far and hoping to reach his £600 target.

The 41-year-old, from Bebington, said: "It was hard going. Wearing the mask meant I couldn’t catch my breath and my goggles kept steaming up.

"I could hardly see a thing and nearly tripped up a couple of my fellow runners.

"But the crowd was great and really kept me going. I also owe a massive thank you to family, friends and colleagues for their kind sponsorship and for raising the profile of the British Lung Foundation and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.

"It’s a cruel and aggressive lung cancer and in desperate need of funding to find better ways to treat it.”

The Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund is part of the British Lung Foundation.

Every penny goes towards promoting a greater awareness and sponsoring vital research studies into mesothelioma. It also offers information and support to people affected by the lung cancer.

To support Stuart and donate visit www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Hughes-NAH/