BEING diagnosed with bowel cancer did not prevent Geoff Johnson getting on and living life to the full.

A warrant officer at the infantry training centre at Catterick Garrison, and a former patient at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, he still enjoys a challenge - regularly running, biking and tackling the assault courses.

Mr Johnson, 42, who is originally from Scarborough, was diagnosed with the disease when on operations in Iraq.

And following treatment, he was told that surgery had been successful - on same day his wife, Ellen, gave birth to their daughter, Hannah, at the Friarage.

Now, thanks to his positive outlook and appetite for life and his fundraising activities for bowel cancer, Mr Johnson has been given an award for his hard work.

He has won medical company Convatec's Great Comeback Award for people who get on with life after being treated for cancer.

Specialist nurse Joan Thirkell nominated him for the award. She said: "I decided to nominate Geoff, as it is fantastic to see someone young coping with a life changing illness and still getting on and living life to the full. "He is an inspiration for other patients and truly deserves his award."