A pub landlord who feared for his life when he was diagnosed in 2012 with a rare cancer of the tonsils, has spent this summer with his son and two good friends fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

Mike Holman, 57, who runs the Cecil Arms at Saltash, took on a mighty challenge with his son Craig, 28, James Locke, 23, and Elliott Noble, 43, and they have raised £6,564.18 for the charity.

Known as The Wet and Dry Round, the fundraiser was the brainchild of Elliott, a pub local.

Mike, Craig and James walked the South West Coastal Footpath from Bude to Saltash, with friends and family walking parts of the journey with them and driving back-up vehicles. Meanwhile, Elliott kayaked the 320 miles by sea to join the walkers at the finish line in Saltash.

The Cecil Arms has gained a reputation for fundraising since Mike came to the helm five years ago, and has now raised upwards of £30,000 for charities, including Cancer Research UK and St Luke’s Hospice.

Mike said: ‘If it wasn’t for research into cancer I wouldn’t be here today. I weighed in at 22 stone when I had my first appointment at Derriford Hospital. Three months later after chemo and radiotherapy treatment plus surgery, I went down to 11 stone.

‘We had so much support from the locals at the pub which was fantastic. It has been a real community effort.’

Fellow fundraiser Elliott, is a keen kayaker, but had not had much experience with sea kayaking. He lost his stepmother to cancer and his dad has recently been diagnosed with terminal secondary kidney cancer.

He explained: ‘I was helped by the Saltash Maritime Sea Cadets,from Sennen to Mullion.

‘I wanted to do something to end this awful disease and fundraising to find more treatments is crucial.’