A GREAT grandfather undertaking a challenge to mark a decade of living with cancer has smashed his initial target.

Ralph White, 75, was diagnosed with stromal sarcoma of the prostate in 2012, leading to six weeks of radiotherapy and ultimately surgery and a urostomy.

Last year, another tumour was found, in his bowel, leading to further surgery, a Christmas spent in hospital and a colostomy.

To mark his 10th year of living with cancer, Mr White is taking on a 10-day walking challenge to raise money for a children's hospice.

On Sunday, 10 days after being discharged from the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Mr White, from Walney Island, began his walking challenge, aiming to trek two miles every day for ten days.

Mr White is raising money for Derian House, a children’s hospice which provides end-of-life care to 400 young people and their families across Lancashire, south Cumbria and Greater Manchester.

And Mr White has already smashed his £1,000 target within days of starting the challenge.

He said: "I'm totally surprised. We started with realistic expectations and set a target a £1,000 and couldn't believe we beat that so quickly. We've learnt through doing this fundraiser that so many people who donated didn't have any clue about Derian House.

"So we're keen to raise the profile of the charity as much as we can.

"We are humbled by all the donations. £1,000 allows for a family to stay in a specially adapted chalet for a week's holiday with their child.

"If we reach £2,000, we might even be able to give two families this trip which is amazing."

Mr White has also set himself the challenge of walking seven miles from his home in West Shore, Walney to Roanhead on Sunday.

"I wanted to set myself a bigger challenge as well as walking the two miles a day," he said.

To donate, head to justgiving.com/fundraising/joanne-ward41