A FORMER Royal Marines Commando fighting life-threatening mouth cancer has powered through his 10km charity run to raise £6,000.
Jonathon Scott, 50, of Windley Tye, Chelmsford, crossed the London Winter Run finish-line with 11 Broomfield Hospital staff to cheers from friends and family.
And the father-of-three, unable to speak after surgery and breathing through a hole in his neck, is already training for a second 10km superhero-themed run in May.
He said: "I was buzzing for about a week after the run. Most of all I felt humbled by the support from the Broomfield team, my friends and my amazing family. When I saw the look of pride on my children's faces it was incredibly emotional and I just felt so proud of everyone."
Jonathon walked the first 3.5km of the route, on Sunday, February 1, was pushed in a wheelchair until the 7km mark after looking unwell but got back on his feet for the final 3km.
His family walked the final 1km with him along The Mall while about six friends from the Royal Marines cheered him over the finish-line with their corps flag proudly waving aloft.
Jonathon said: "It was tough for me, I nearly collapsed at the end but again, thanks to the fantastic people from Broomfield, I was supported back into the chair.
"The hardest part was about a third of the way around when I just lost all strength and had to be put in the wheelchair."
Jonathon, also a former motorcycle instructor and internet communications specialist, has suffered from chronic vomiting, extreme fatigue and weight loss since being diagnosed with tongue and tonsil cancer in December 2013.
But he set his sights on last Sunday's run, a resolve that inspired staff in the hospital's Stock Ward, and his health has since improved.
He is now sleeping full nights, his appetite is back and he's walking his dog on his own. "It gave me a massive lift," he said.
"Being told you have cancer and that it is aggressive is life-shattering.
"But everyone has a choice – I can't talk, eat food, smell and I now breath out of a hole in my throat so it's pretty tempting to lie on the sofa and feel sorry for myself.
"I chose to do the opposite and so far it is, touch wood, really helping.
"I feel stronger, I'm putting weight back on, sleeping better and, despite the chemotherapy's side effects, my quality of life has improved."
Consultant physiotherapist Sarah Smailes, 47, who also ran, described Jonathon's efforts as "unbelievable" and thanked private non-emergency ambulance firm ERS Medical for transporting him to the run free of charge.
She said: "It was humbling really for all of us to watch this man, who was given weeks to live in January, do that.
"It was just incredible and everyone has got nothing but admiration for him.
"He's the sort of guy who you would always want to do your best for."
The team have smashed their £1,000 fundraising target for Cancer Research, thanks partly to Chronicle readers.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/sarah -smailes
