MOTHER and son cancer survivors who were struck by the disease within months of one another have turned their hands to fundraising.

Thanks to generous family and friends in East Lancashire, Sandra and Stephen Hobson have raised more than £8,000 for the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Stephen, 39, of Deerplay Drive, Bacup, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July last year, five months after Sandra, 63, of Flixton, near Manchester, received the news that she had breast cancer.

It was a chance visit to the doctors that led to Stephen's cancer being discovered. And four days later it was removed at Burnley General Hospital.

"If I had not plucked up the courage to mention it I might not be here today," said Stephen, a father-of-three who works as an MoT tester.

Overcoming embarrassment was the hardest part, he said.

"I would urge all men to check themselves regularly and to see their GP as soon as they detect any change.

"It need not necessarily be a lump. In my case the testicle started to shrivel. Having it removed has made no difference to my life at all and I am absolutely fine now."

He was referred to Christies for radiotherapy after the operation.

Knowing first-hand the importance of Christie's work, Stephen set out with nine friends to cycle from Bacup to join the Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride and raise more than £3,000.

Stephen added: "The support we have had has been marvellous. Thankfully we have come through it."

The ride meant covering 130 miles a day. Oesophagus cancer survivor John Carter of Bacup joined the cycling crew along with several members of a local youth club run by Philip Lord, a teacher at Fearns County High School in Bacup.

His daughters Samantha, 16, and Lucy, 12, organised events at All Saints Catholic Language College in Haslingden including a non-uniform day. And his wife Jane joined forces with Sandra to organise fundraising events in Todmorden including a sponsored swim, party nights and collections.

Jane said: "My mother died at the end of the same year so it really was our very own annus horribilis. Thankfully Stephen and mum are looking really well." Sandra's tumour was diagnosed after a routine mammogram screening. She had surgery followed by a course of radiotherapy at Christie's.

She said: "I had not suspected anything was wrong, so the screening and the prompt treatment that followed definitely saved my life.

"I was devastated to discover that Stephen also had cancer and I am very grateful he is all right."

The cheque for £8,024 was presented to Dr Vincent Khoo at the hospital.

It will help pay for his research to target radiotherapy to tumours with pinpoint accuracy.