“ALWAYS visit your GP if you’re worried – it’s because I did that I’ll be celebrating Christmas with my family again this year.”

Mike Richards, 56, from Bournemouth, noticed some rectal bleeding just before Christmas last year and said he tried not to think about it.

By the end of January 2018, he had visited the hospital three times and been diagnosed with a sizeable polyp – a growth on the inner lining of the large intestine.

But after blood tests came back clear, he was close to cancelling a CT scan.

However, he went through with the scan, and later found he had stage four advanced bowel cancer.

Mike, a self-employed gardener, said: “My wife convinced me to go and now I’m relieved that I did because the results showed I had advanced bowel cancer.

“There was some discussion about palliative care – that is, treatment for people with a life-limiting illness.

“At that point it’s really hard to get your head around what’s going on, but you put your trust in those that are treating you. I had a good chat with my consultant and he said ‘I think we can get it'.”

After enduring a 12-hour operation where they removed four inches of his bowel, he was left with a 64-inch wound and given chemotherapy.

He added: “Christmas is a time when many people reflect on the year that’s passed, and for us that was especially true.

“I was still building myself up though and didn’t have much energy. I was early to bed and late to rise and suffering from the side effects of neuropathy.

“That’s where chemotherapy damages the nerves in the body’s extremities. It makes it really hard to pick up things.

“I do worry about cancer coming back but the most important thing is not to ignore things.”

Mike is a friend of the Wessex Cancer Trust's community engagement manager for Dorset Maria Tidy.

Maria encouraged Mike to speak out about the importance of getting checked for cancer.

He went on a 5K sponsored walk in Winchester for the charity last September – but now it needs to raise £600,000 by January 31 or risk having to close.

Its centres across Bournemouth, Chandler’s Ford, Hythe and the Isle of Wight provide a drop-in service, counselling, therapies, activities, and support groups.

“I’m probably like a lot of men in that I find it hard to talk about my feelings," said Mike.

“But I do acknowledge that cancer can be just as hard for those supporting someone through it – the close family and friends.”

To donate the charity, text SAVEWESSEX to 70085 or visit justgiving.com/campaign/savewessexcancertrust