MEN can get breast cancer too is the message from a London cabbie taking part in the second Redditch Relay for Life.

Dave Abbett, 59, from Webheath, will be among the survivors completing a lap of honour marking the start of the 24-hour event at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday, June 9.

"Breast cancer is not only a women's disease, men can get it too and it's important for them to check their whole body and report any changes to their GP," he said.

Mr Abbett discovered he had breast cancer in 2004 when he was referred to the Alexandra Hospital by a doctor who noticed an irregularity during an examination for an unrelated problem.

He had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and, like many female breast cancer patients, takes tamoxifen.

While Mr Abbett was being treated, his wife Brenda read up on complimentary therapies and devised a healthy eating plan, both are now part of their every day routine.

Following his treatment, he returned to playing table tennis after a break of 30 years and was runner-up in the men's handicap and quarter finalist in the men's veterans at the recent county championships.

He is also back to spending three days a week in London driving his cab.

He urged everyone to join him at the Relay for Life, which he described as "a great way for the community to support all those touched by cancer by raising money for Cancer Research UK's work to find new ways of preventing, treating and diagnosing different forms of cancer. I would urge anyone who can to take part and to bring family and friends along with them."

During the Relay for Life teams take it in turn to walk around the track in a relay.

When darkness falls everyone is invited to take part in the Candle of Hope ceremony and light a candle in celebration or memory of a loved one's life.

For more details about the relay or to register a team, call Lorraine O'Malley on 07768 714498.

Team prepare for take-off

LOSING his mum to breast cancer inspired a Redditch student to enter this year's Relay for Life.

Jon Adderley, 20, from Church Hill, is in a team called Plane Crazy and he and friends from both Redditch and Salford University will take part in aircraft-related fancy dress.

His mum Michelle was originally diagnosed in 2000 and, following an operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, everything looked to be going well.

However, in April 2002 she was diagnosed with secondary bone and liver cancers.

She battled on after the doctors gave her no more than two years to live and finally died on August 1, 2004, leaving Jon, aged 18, and his brother Mark, aged 12.

"Thanks to the work done by Cancer Research UK my brother and I managed to have four good years with our mum and are eternally grateful," he said.

"My friends and I hope that by raising money for Cancer Research UK we can help save others from the pain and anguish that my family suffered."