A RINGWOOD cancer survivor has broken a world record after completing the London Marathon earlier this year wearing snowshoes.

Eddie Cain, 33, from St Ives, who is husband to Claire and dad to one-year-old son, Fraser, took on the 26-mile challenge in the quirky footwear in April which made over £4,300 for the charity, Beating Bowel Cancer.

He has just been told that he is now a Guinness World Record holder after passing the finishing line in six hours, nineteen minutes and six seconds making it the Fastest Marathon Wearing Snowshoes.

Eddie said: "This means so much to me given what I have been through in the past 18 months. Being diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2013 was a huge shock and coming through all the chemo and major surgery was a major thing for me and my family.

"Combined with the birth of my son six days after my surgery, the past year and a half has been a real blur of highs and lows.

Eddie was diagnosed with cancer after being rushed to hospital for an emergency blood transfusion and iron infusion to due to internal bleeding caused by a 10cm tumour on his colon. Last year he underwent 10 rounds of chemotherapy and major bowel surgery.

He added: "I owe a huge amount to the nurses, registrars, surgeons and consultants that I met along the way. I hope that the money I raised and miles I put in goes some way towards showing my gratitude for the all the hard work they put in on a daily basis."

Gemma Ali, events fundraiser at Beating Bowel Cancer, said: "We’re so chuffed for Eddie. We couldn't believe it when we heard he was going to run the London Marathon in snowshoes and it was great to be able to cheer him on from the side-lines during the race.

"He made an incredible time and we're so proud of him and very grateful for his fundraising efforts, which will help the charity continue to help more patients."

Beating Bowel Cancer provide vital practical and emotional help to people and raises public awareness of the disease, which is the UK's second biggest cancer killer. The charity also campaigns to ensure governments and health services provide the highest quality care and treatments.

For more information, go to Justgiving.com/Edward-Cain