THE widower of Gail Hepworth is to return to the American city where she took her inspirational fight for life - to help other cancer sufferers.

Dave Hepworth is to run in the New York Marathon in November, exactly four years after Gail travelled with him to the Big Apple to undergo complementary treatment.

Evening Press readers raised thousands of pounds in less than a fortnight to help pay for the trip after being inspired by the mother's determination to stay alive so she could continue to bring up her children, Jack and Tom.

Speaking just after the first anniversary of her death, Dave, from Hemingbrough, near Selby, said Gail's treatment at the Schachter Centre had given her extra years of quality life with the children before she finally succumbed to the illness.

"There's a special significance in New York. It holds some special memories for me," said Dave, who will be running to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and the associated Lavender Trust.

He has already raised thousands of pounds for the charities through other events, including a dance at the Merchant Adventurers, Hall in York, which he intends to repeat next autumn.

Dave said Jack and Tom would not be able to travel to America for the marathon because of schoolwork, but they would be going with him there on a six-day trip in August.

The holiday would include a visit to the Schachter Centre, so that the boys could see where their mother underwent her treatment.

Meanwhile, Dave revealed that he had organised a special memorial service in his back garden on Sunday, the anniversary of Gail's death.

The vicar who officiated at her funeral had agreed to conduct the garden service as well.

Music played had included Sunshine by the singer Gabrielle, "because Gail was like a ray of sunshine that lit up the world."

Afterwards, there had been a barbecue.

"We had fun, because that's what Gail would have wanted."

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, June 03, 2003