JEFF STELLING has saluted ultra-marathon hero, Kevin Webber after the was named Endurance Fundraiser of the Year at the JustGiving Awards.

The 53-year-old from Surrey, who has helped raise more than £200,000 for Prostate Cancer UK after being diagnosed with the disease four years ago, collected the prestigious prize in London.

Fittingly the award was presented to him by Hartlepool United club president Stelling; the duo having strolled side-by-side in the epic Football-centred March for Men from Exeter to Newcastle in 2017.

Webber recently walked from Blyth to Halifax – taking in Gateshead, Hartlepool, Spennymoor and Darlington – as part of the National League’s recent Prostate Cancer takeover which helped raise over £150,000.

Webber was diagnosed with advanced incurable terminal prostate cancer in 2014 aged 49 and told that he may have only two years to live.

Since then he has raised more than £200,000. Last year he took part in 12 days of Stelling’s epic 15 marathons in 15 days – walking throughout the North-East - and ran his own marathons for the other three. He has also tackled some of the world's most gruelling ultra-marathons, including the trans-Saharan, Marathon de Sables multiple times and the Likeys 6633 Arctic Ultra.

Stelling said: “Kevin is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met and it was an honour to walk side by side with him in our March for Men from Exeter to Newcastle in 2017. His reaction and positive outlook despite being dealt the toughest of hands is simply unbelievable.

“I tip my hat to him after a succession of amazing challenges for Prostate Cancer UK, and this award is worthy testimony to a remarkable man.”

During an epic 2018 Kevin ran 120 miles whilst pulling a sledge across the Arctic in temperatures below -30. Then two weeks later he ran another 156 miles, but this time in over 50c heat as he took on the Marathon Des Sables for a third time.

Webber said: “In 2014, at the age of 49, when I was told I may only have two years to live, my whole world came crashing down. All I could think about was “two years”. A few months later, after my first session of chemotherapy, I even had a thought that I would never run again, but I decided not to let the cancer win. Instead I ran for three slow miles that day and kept on running further and further day by day.

“I’ve met some wonderful people in the last few years and everyone has been so generous in helping me raise much needed funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

"It’s just amazing to win this award," added Kevin, dedicating the award to his son, Ollie, who was celebrating his 14th birthday and was at the event, together with Kevin’s wife Sarah. "It's an amazing thing for me, a great memory. It's great PR for the charity, too, and will help me push on tomorrow, and the day after, when sometimes I really don’t want to push on any more."

Angela Culhane, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Kevin has been a tireless supporter of the charity for the past four years and remains fiercely determined to make a difference.

“His epic achievements have done just that, and the money he has raised will help us fund more ground-breaking research, provide dedicated support and information to men and their loved ones and make prostate cancer a disease the next generation of men need not fear.

“As well as being an incredible fundraiser, he is an incredibly humble and inspiring person who has touched the lives of many, many people. This prestigious JustGiving award is deserved recognition for his efforts.”

Many people are unaware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It’s a huge issue that cannot be ignored. One man will die from prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK. That’s over 11,500 men a year.

You can sponsor Kevin via: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kevin-webber7 and to find out more information about Prostate Cancer UK go to www.prostatecanceruk.org.