BRAVE Kevin Bolam has come a long way from the dark days of being diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve just over a year ago. His biggest fear then was of never seeing his six-week old son Charlie grow up. But today Kevin, aged 46, of Albert Street, St A

BRAVE Kevin Bolam has come a long way from the dark days of being diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve just over a year ago. His biggest fear then was of never seeing his six-week old son Charlie grow up. But today Kevin, aged 46, of Albert Street, St Albans is running 13 miles a week in readiness for the London Marathon. Kevin, who had colon cancer which had spread to his lymph nodes, said: "I'm not out of the woods yet I know but I feel fit and strong and full of hope for the future." This is a long way from December 2004 which saw him in and out of hospital in excruciating pain, undergoing unnecessary major surgery until finally he received the correct diagnosis in time for Christmas. Grateful He said: "It was almost a relief to be told about the tumour after operations which failed to relieve the pain but it cast a giant shadow over the future with my baby son." It also caused a financial headache for Kevin and his wife Caroline, aged 36, who had to become the major wage earner. Kevin has his own business in Verulam Road, St Albans, as an upholsterer but he was too ill to work for months while he underwent chemotherapy at Mount Vernon Hospital. He said: "I'm so grateful for my health and strength back that I want to raise money for the cancer research unit at Mount Vernon. Before I was sick I ran two London Marathons in aid of a cancer hospice but now I'm more focused on wanting to help the research to prevent it." If you want to sponsor Kevin, who is hoping to raise at least £2,000, go online to www.justgiving.com/kevinbolam