A CANCER survivor from Selby will be one of the official torchbearers when the Olympic flame passes through the town this summer.

Peter Heald, 59, from Doncaster Road, was nominated for the honour by one of his colleagues at Drax Power Station.

Peter said his wife of 37 years, Eileen, and sons Christopher, 32, and Stuart, 30, will all be turning out to see him run with the torch.

And although he has not been told his exact path, he will be running in the Selby area.

He said: “Everyone’s been telling me I’ll trip up and fall over and bend the torch, but that’s the way we get through it. I’ve been doing a little bit of practice. Both my sons have dogs, so I like to walk them and get some exercise. I haven’t decided whether I’ll run or walk it yet, milking it for the crowd. If we’re in the town centre, I’ll probably walk.”

In 2008, Peter was diagnosed with tonsular cancer, and underwent weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to beat the disease, but although the cancer did not return, the treatment left Peter with another ailment.

He said: “I ended up not being able to swallow.

“They call it an esophageal stricture, which means the food pipe closed. The doctors have had three goes at trying to get through it, but nothing’s worked.”

Peter, who is also a District Explorer Scout Commissioner in Selby, is now fed high-energy liquids through a tube in his chest, which leads directly to his stomach.

He has returned to his job at Drax Power Station, where he has worked since 1995. Peter said: “Drax have been great with me, I can’t speak highly enough, they’ve been superb with me all the way through my treatment.”

Peter Emery, production director at Drax, said: “We’re all thrilled for Peter. He’s shown great courage and determination over recent months and the fact that he’s back here in the team shows his personal belief and fighting spirit.

“No doubt some of the team will be on the streets to watch him and everyone at Drax is really pleased he’s going to get this moment in the limelight.”