A CANCER survivor who almost died from meningitis has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Peter Hall, 54, of Belgrave Road, Leigh, was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 1994 and, despite a long period of chemotherapy, the cancer continued to return and spread.

Mr Hall said: “I was told by his doctors in November 1999 that there was nothing further that they could do for me as there were no more treatment options.

“As if that news wasn’t devastating enough, in August 2000 I was rushed to St Bart’s Hospital in London, diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and septicaemia as a result of a weakened immune system.

“My family were called to my bedside as I was not expected to survive the night.”

Remarkably, and against all odds, Peter went on to make a slow but complete recovery, without any further need for treatment.

He also set about getting fit, having already completed the London Marathon in 1998 in between transplants and chemotherapy.

In 2004, he was well enough to run the London Marathon again and has since completed the event a total of nine times, raising vital funds for Havens Hospices who supported him at the most difficult time of his life providing care and support.

He has now run the marathon nine times, raising £40,000 for Havens Hospices.

He has also run the Barcelona Marathon, cycled through mountainous region of China and Vietnam, and successfully completed a 1,000 mile Cycle challenge from John O’Groats to Lands End in 2007 – raising in excess of £40,000 over time for Havens Hospices.

He has also cycled from London to Amsterdam, and from Leigh to Paris three times.

Mr Hall also completed the Race to the Stones in July - a 100km run along the Ridgeway across the Chiltern Hills.

He raised £1,800 for New Life Wood, a new charity he helped set up and now manages based at Wat Tyler park in Pitsea.

New Life Wood reaches out to disadvantaged adults across South Essex and helps transform lives, while reducing poverty and unemployment.

He is now taking on the Foulness Island Bike Ride in aid of New Life Wood in September.

Mr Hall said: “I am thrilled to be able to take part in this year’s Foulness Island Bike Ride, which is organised and hosted each year by The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay.

“I am really looking forward to taking part, and I would urge others to sign up to for what is a really popular and family friendly event.”

You can sign up at thorpebayrotaryevents.co.uk/bikeride.html