A ROYAL Mail worker is bidding to deliver a boost for a cause he has a personal connection to.

Father-of-four Darren Barham, who is a Royal Mail delivery officer, is training hard for the Basingstoke Half Marathon on Sunday, 7 October, which he is running in aid of Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

Darren’s wife Debbie is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and this has motivated the 51-year-old grandfather to pull on his running shoes and make a difference to the charity and its cancer treatment centre campaign.

Darren, from Basingstoke, said: “My wife has received wonderful care and support from the people who have been looking after her at Basingstoke hospital, and when I heard about Ark and the cancer treatment centre project, I decided that I wanted to do something to help.

“I have done a few marathons and half-marathons in the past, but I know that the Basingstoke course will be a very challenging one.

“I have set up a fundraising page, and I am grateful to everyone who has already made donations. I hope to raise as much as I can, and I am pleased to be doing something to support the new centre, which will help, and make such a difference to, so many people by providing vital treatment and support to patients and their families.”

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, said: “Darren’s support for Ark and the cancer treatment centre project is very much appreciated. Good luck to him, and all of the other runners who will literally be going the extra mile, and then some, for the charity at this year’s Basingstoke Half Marathon.”

Ark Cancer Centre Charity is raising £5million towards the new cancer treatment centre, largely funded by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), to be located at the existing Basingstoke hospital site.

To sponsor Darren, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/darren-barham.