CENTRAL London came to Bourne Woods this past weekend.

Mike Dean should have been running the London Landmarks Half Marathon… in London.

But with Covid and 14,000 runners participating, he decided to move his run to the Farnham landmark made famous through numerous films: Bourne Woods.

With only a couple of days’ notice, his wife Patricia set to and with the help of Farnham’s own Cancer Research shop and Kall Kwik, both in West Street, put together a display of London landmarks and Cancer Research balloons and bunting to try to recreate the atmosphere of a London race.

Walkers in Bourne Woods were slightly bemused at the sight but many were moved to contribute to the cause.

When asked why he was doing the run, Mike said: “I lost my mum to cancer and my father is now suffering from the same.

“These are really difficult times for all of us and I just wanted to do something that might make them a little better.”

As of now, Mike’s supporters have raised more than £10,000 for Cancer Research.

This apparently puts Mike in the top one per cent of fundraisers taking part in the London half-marathon, which is organised each year by Tommy’s, the pregnancy charity.

Donations can still be made online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mike-dean2021

Cancer Research UK pioneers lifesaving research to help beat cancer – see https://www.cancerresearchuk.org