QUITTING was no option for a Stuart Cock when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

And now, after being clear of the disease for just a year, he is tasking himself to complete 43 challenges during his 43rd year.

Stuart tried to accomplish a similar feat after his friend died from a brain tumour in 2016, but he was unable to do so after cancer struck.

But with the wind back in his sails, he is now tackling the Gloucester cheese rolling event, a skydive and a series of other activities to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK.

Stuart said: “It took quite a lot of thinking to come up with all the challenges.

"In the first half of the year I completed several challenges, including dying my hair pink for two weeks, a run in the Prospect 10k race, and I’ve gone meat and sugar free for a month, run a half marathon distance and milked a cow.

“The skydive is going to be a horrendous thing because I’m not good with heights. Meat-free is quite easy for me but sugar-free was a real struggle. But compared to the struggle that I went through last year it’s nothing.”

The avid rugby player underwent six months of chemo and had half of his large intestine removed, making it difficult for him to finish the more active challenges. But the man from Stratton remains optimistic about checking off the rest of the list as he hopes to fundraise £5,000 by the end of the year.

“I’ve had lots of support. The kids are helping out and it’s a bit of a family affair. My 15-year-old son is doing the Castles Bike Ride with me and loads of colleagues are doing a 26-mile hike. The ballet should be funny because I’ve played rugby all my life so I’m not coordinated in any way.

“I cried when I got the one year all-clear two weeks ago. It’s impossible to describe. It dominates your life for such a long period. Cancer tried to get me but I’m 43 and still not out.”

Stuart is also attempting to go on the wagon for the year, bake a Great British Bake Off style show-stopper, take a wicket, climb three mountains, grow a giant vegetable or fruit, and run a 42km race. To sponsor him, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/stuart-cock3