A man who was diagnosed with cancer refused to admit defeat after not being able to run in the London Marathon.

Ilford Recorder: Sean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiserSean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiser (Image: Archant)

Sean Harris, from Gants Hill, held his own charity fundraiser after his plan to run the 26.2-mile route for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity was cut short following the discovery of a tumour in his bladder.

Ilford Recorder: Sean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiserSean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiser (Image: Archant)

Undeterred, the 43-year-old taxi driver still wanted to do something for the charity, so he organised on a coffee morning in a friend’s back garden last month which raised £1,300.

Ilford Recorder: Sean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiserSean Harris with family and friends at the charity fundraiser (Image: Archant)

More than 50 guests attended the event and bought clothes and chocolates from stalls while sipping coffee, which had been donated by the Little Coffee Bag Company.

Sean said: “Everyone really pulled together and we’re really grateful.

“I was just turning a negative into a positive.”

Since being diagnosed in January, Sean has been given the all-clear.

“I was quite disappointed that I couldn’t run the marathon” he said. “It’s so hard to get a place.”

Local businesses donated to the cause, along with the visitors who paid £5 to enter the garden.

Sean said: “It was just great, the amount of people who turned up. It’s always good to do something for charity.”