A MAN who has tackled cancer and won is now about to embark on the ultimate test of endurance, six back-to-back marathons in the blistering heat.

Darren Mellor, from Cowley Road, Oxford, was a sports mad 17-year-old when he discovered a lump under his arm.

Doctors originally believed the orange-sized tumour was a glandular problem, but after extensive tests it was found to be an aggressive form of Leukaemia and Mr Mellor spent six months in hospital.

Now 27, the sports manager who works for David Lloyd Leisure, in Cowley, is training hard in preparation for the Marathon Des Sables, a gruelling 157-mile endurance test through the Sahara desert.

He said: “Being diagnosed with Leukaemia was just a whirlwind.

“I had been out and gone to bed as normal but I woke up in the morning in absolute agony with a huge lump sticking out from underneath my arm.

“When I used to watch adverts on TV regarding cancer, I didn’t pay much attention – until it happened to me.

“While I was in hospital I saw the illness take the lives of two other teenagers.

“It was a massive shock to the system seeing 17 and 18-year-old people dying in the rooms next door.”

Mr Mellor said he wants to raise more than £20,000 for the Heart of England NHS Leukaemia Fund.

The Marathon Des Sables, translated as marathon of the sands, will be held in Morocco in March.

More than 800 runners from across the globe will run through the Sahara desert during six days crossing rough terrain, stony ground and sand dunes.

The competitors are also expected to carry their equipment, food, clothes and medical kit in temperatures of up to 40C.

Despite never having run further than a few miles when he signed up for the marathon in 2008, Mr Mellor is now running between 40 and 50 miles every week in preparation.

He is also organising a fundraising auction at the sports centre in October to boost the charity’s coffers.

“I know it sounds like a cliche, but the whole experience just made me want to do this to give something back,” added Mr Mellor.

“Hopefully this will be the start of many fundraising events I will do.”