A DALES man who survived a rare cancer and a multiple organ transplant has won a Macmillan award for his work raising money for charity.

Adam Alderson, from Preston-under-Scar, Wensleydale, has been named Local Macmillan Champion in the East Midlands and North of England.

Mr Alderson underwent a ground-breaking 17-hour surgery in the summer of 2015 to remove a 10kg tumour and his stomach, small bowel, large bowel, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, appendix, abdominal wall and most of his liver, before multiple abdominal organs were transplanted into him.

Mr Alderson has become an ambassador for the charities which supported him through his illness and recovery from pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) including Macmillan and Pelican Cancer Foundation.

He has also completed a series of challenges along with his wife Laura, after setting up a fundraising team called the Yorkshire Yaks.

It was as part of this team that the couple attempted to complete the Mongol Rally, which saw them drive from Leyburn to Mongolia in two old Suzuki Jimneys in summer 2017.

The Mongol Rally involves driving 10,000 miles across Europe and Asia to Mongolia without back-up or support. There is no set route, with each team finding their own way to the finish line.

Mr Alderson fell ill while the Yaks were in Kazakhstan. and he flew home from Russia following consultation with his doctors in Oxford.

Thankfully, Mr Alderson recovered but his teammates completed the rally without him.

He has also organised a Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge with a group of supporters in under 12 hours.

Mr Alderson said: ""I do a lot of medical talks, which I really enjoy because I can answer questions about the surgery and how I recovered, but I also do more general motivational speaking."

“Macmillan have been there for me every step of the way through my cancer treatment, they have supported me physically, mentally and financially.

“It’s an absolute pleasure working with Macmillan to help fund our local cancer treatment services, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated or asked me to speak at their charity event."