SUPERFIT fundraiser Gavin Allen is set to hand over hundreds of pounds to Colchester General Hospital's chemotherapy unit.

This year's London Marathon is the fourth consecutive race Mr Allen has completed in aid of the Mary Barron Suite.

His raised £500 this year, including about £215 from members of Halstead Amateur Boxing Club, where he is a member.

Heating and plumbing engineer Mr Allen has already secured a place in next year's race after finishing fourth in this year's Colchester Half Marathon in a time of 74 minutes and 20 seconds.

The runner will present the money to staff on Tuesday alongside George Cook, head coach of the Halstead club.

Mr Cook, 69, had six months' worth of chemotherapy at the unit after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2007.

Gavin, 41, of Nether Court, Halstead, said: "My target had been to finish the marathon in 2hrs 40mins, which would have been my fastest time, but I was seven minutes outside of that."

The dad-of-two added: "However, I’m really pleased to have got a place for next year’s London Marathon and will again be doing my bit for the Mary Barron Suite."

The money raised this year will be donated to Colchester Hospitals Charity’s Cancer Centre Campaign, a £4.5million project backed by the Gazette.

When the campaign is complete, the Mary Barron Suite will relocate to a new building above the radiotherapy centre, which opened at the Turner Road hospital in June 2014.

Sister Vanessa Bradbury, from the chemotherapy unit, said: "Halstead Boxing Club and Gavin have given outstanding support to the Mary Barron Suite over the years.

"We’re all in awe of Gavin’s athletic achievements and we can’t thank him and George enough for their tremendous fundraising and loyalty.

"We wish him well with his training for next year’s London Marathon – we’re already looking forward to seeing him in 2017."

For more information on the Cancer Centre Campaign, go to cohoc.org.uk/cancer-centre.