A fundraiser is on track to hit its target of £50,000 raised for The Christie since it started a decade ago.

Alex McCann set up Altrincham VS Cancer in partnership with the PureGym in the town 10 years ago.

Mr McCann, who is the owner of social media marketing agency Altrincham HQ, said the fundraiser started after his friend Mark Winstanley lost his parents to the disease.

They were treated at The Christie, the cancer centre in Withington, Manchester, which is one of the largest of its type on the continent and treats tens of thousands per year.

Mr McCann said: "Everyone takes part in memory of those who they've lost and out of gratitude for those who are still with us."

Initially the fundraiser consisted of a 5K run on the treadmills at PureGym but, today, the fundraiser consists of much, much more. There are a number of other events at schools such as Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Altrincham Preparatory School for Boys and North Cestrian School and supermarkets such as Tesco Extra as well as elsewhere across the town.

It is on track to hit its target of £50,000 raised for The Christie since it started a decade ago.

Mr McCann said: "My ambition for Altrincham VS cancer is for us to have every supermarket and every school behind the event."

Tragically the fundraiser took on extra emotional significance for Mr McCann when Mr Winstanley also lost his life to the disease.

Mr Winstanley died three years ago after a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer five years ago.

Mr McCann said: "Even talking about Altrincham VS Cancer brings back painful memories for me but the reason we all continue to fundraise is for a cancer-free future."

A page on JustGiving is approaching £5,000 out of the target of £15,000 for this year.

The page on JustGiving is justgiving.com/fundraising/altrinchamvscancerinyourowntime.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.