A MAN who beat cancer will emulate a daredevil superhero to raise cash in memory of his mother, who lost her battle with the disease.

Jonathan Cole, 27, from Hastings Hill, Sunderland, donned the eye-catching red and blue Spiderman outfit yesterday to launch his bid to abseil down the city's National Glass Centre.

His mother, Pamela, helped him through his battle against a brain tumour, but died, aged 55, from bowel cancer in November 2000.

"When mum died, she made us promise to do something meaningful in her memory to advance cancer research and help other people with the disease," he said.

"Taking part in the Sunderland abseil is one way to do that and I'll go on fundraising for as long as it takes to find a cure."

Mr Cole was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was 16. "I remember reading a book one day, then the world suddenly turned in on itself," he said. "When I came to, I couldn't remember any of it.

"Over the next few days, I blacked out again while playing basketball at school. When it happened at the supermarket, mum insisted I see a doctor."

After brain scans at Newcastle General Hospital, his consultant diagnosed the tumour and Mr Cole had the operation to remove it.

His mother nursed him back to health, spending hours teaching him how to read again and playing card games with him to develop his memory.

"Mum was always there," he said. "When I was frustrated and confused, she would be there telling me 'don't give up'."

He made a good recovery and went on to graduate from the University of Sunderland.

Mrs Cole was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1998. Mr Cole and his father, Winston, both gave up work to care for her up to her death.

He will take part in the first Cancer Research UK sponsored abseil off the National Glass Centre on Sunday, March 2.