HIS inspirational story prompted the founding of a York charity run and now a Bishopthorpe man has spoken of how he lost his wife to cancer while he too battled the disease.

Les Coop, 57, was diagnosed with prostate cancer out of the blue after going to see his doctor about an unrelated complaint.

While undergoing gruelling treatment to beat the cancer, Mr Coop tragically lost his wife, Sharon, to the disease last August.

He said: “I found a boil under my arm and I was like most blokes, thinking it would just go away.

“My wife told me to go and get it checked out.”

Mr Coop said while he was there the doctor suggested a blood health test, which included checking for signs of prostate cancer. It was the next day, after returning from the golf course, that Mr Coop was told by his wife that the hospital had been in touch.

“I had another examinations and it proved positive for prostate cancer.

“My wife had been given a year to live and then we found out I had that – it was just devastating.”

Mrs Coop was given up to one year to live after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2009. Doctors had initially hoped to treat her, but after carrying out an exploratory operation, they found there was nothing which could be done to save her.

It was during this difficult time that Mr Coop decided to undergo a prostatectomy operation.

He said: “My wife died at the end of August and the operation was put back until October.”

After undergoing the procedure, Mr Coop is now on the 13th of 20 radiotherapy sessions and he must take hormone tablets for the next two years, as well as battle side-effects such as temporary incontinence.

But he has vowed to be at the start line for the men-only 5K run taking place along the River Ouse this summer. The charity event was set up in an effort to encourage men not to ignore health potentially serious problems.

Mr Coop said: “I was lucky. I had the support of Sharon and my whole family. But having gone through this, I would say to blokes the earlier you sort it the better – it’s a life or death thing.”

Brian Hughes, organiser of the R U Taking The P? run, said: “I have known Les and his family for a long time. He is an inspiration to everybody and has told me he will do this run even if he has to crawl round.”

The 5k takes place on June 20 and entry forms are available to download from yorkknavesmireharriers.co.uk

Organisers say people taking part do not have to run the event; they can run, walk or jog their way round the course.

Any business which would like to sponsor the event, should phone Brian Hughes on 01904 656427.