A COURAGEOUS Runcorn mum who lost her battle with cancer has inspired her husband to tackle arduous charity challenges.

Nick Vaughan has raised more than £15,000 for Halton Haven in memory of his wife Roz, 57, who died at the hospice in 2014.

Mum-of-three Roz discovered she had lung cancer three months after having a kidney tumour removed.

The brave grandmother blogged as the ‘cancer warrior’ and nicknamed her tumour ‘cling on’ as she wrote funny poems about her surgery to encourage other patients to fight back.

She never gave up hope and her incredible zest for life won her Merseyside Inspirational Woman of the Year.

Her work colleagues at the call centre in Preston Brook say she has left behind a powerful legacy to make people aware of kidney cancer and save more lives.

Nick has completed two 24-hour skipathons and a 24-hour bikeathon.

Earlier this month he teamed up with his family and friends to stage another skipathon at Tesco in Widnes and hopes to raise a further £4,000.

The Voice contestant Olivia Shepherd, an army bugler, acoustic bands and singers entertained shoppers as fundraisers persevered with their marathon.

Nick, of Heywood Crescent, said: “The hospice is close to my heart as sadly my wife passed away there. She asked me to raise funds and I’m a man of my word!

“This is the fourth time we’ve done a fundraising challenge like this and we want to thank the public for helping us to raise plenty of money for the hospice.”

Chris Andrews, community fundraising manager at the hospice, said: “Nick is doing an incredible job. We’re always amazed that he keeps setting himself these challenges and raising such an amazing amount from them too!

“Without Nick and others like him the hospice wouldn’t exist so we are incredibly grateful for his hard work and support.”