A FIREFIGHTER'S cancer scare led him to enlist colleagues to join him in a fundraising charity walk.

Eddie Cooper, 36, is leading a team of firefighters and support staff from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service's Barmston Mere Training Centre, in Washington, in a series of sponsored walks staged by Cancer Research UK.

Mr Cooper is calling on the general public to back the Stride for Life walks, which include three North-East events in the autumn.

They are to promote the charity's breast cancer awareness campaign in addition to raising funds.

Mr Cooper, who had been based at the service's Hebburn station for 15 years before becoming a trainer at the new centre, revealed how he discovered a lump on the left side of his chest, in March.

The married father-of-two said he initially ignored the lump, but concern grew when he became aware that men can suffer breast cancer as well as women.

"I knew about the impact breast cancer has on women, particularly because friends and colleagues have been affected by it.

"But I didn't know that men could be diagnosed as well."

When the lump refused to go away, Mr Cooper carried out research on the Internet and found his symptoms matched those found in breast cancer for men.

Fearing the worst, he plucked up the courage to see his GP who referred him to a specialist.

He was eventually given the all-clear after an ultra-sound scan revealed the growth was benign.

"It was such a relief when the doctor told me I was okay.

"The whole experience has made me realise that men need to know more about breast cancer and take action straight away if they think something is wrong."

It motivated him to support Cancer Research UK's funding into the disease, which is diagnosed in about 290 men a year in Britain.

Stride for Life walks take place at Washington's Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, on Sunday, October 2, and at Exhibition Park, Newcastle, on Sunday, November 23.

Further information is available on www.cancerresearchuk.org/breastcancer, or from the charity's North-East fundraising office, which can be contacted on (08701) 602040.