THURROCK army veteran Sean Laidlaw has successfully led a team on a £2,500 fund-raising mission in memory of his dad, Ian – and to help a four-year-old boy who is fighting cancer.

Ex-Specialist Bomb Disposal Soldier, business owner and author, Sean Laidlaw, 31, from Aveley, organised the indoor cycle marathon relay with co-owner of personal training firm Beyond Limits, Mitch Baldock, 29, from Grays.

The pair, joined by 40 other people from within the Thurrock community, cycled the equivalent distance to Brighton and back (192,000 metres) last Saturday in just 90 minutes at the firm's new HQ - Thurrock Rugby Club.

They originally set themselves the goal of raising £1,000 – but that has so far ballooned to £2,500 and counting…

Speaking after the event, proud Sean explained why he choose to raise money for Cancer Research.

He said: "My dad was attracted to danger, he hang-glided and was one of only 50 people qualified in the world to undertake extreme diving. He was forever in the woods with his bike and we had completed the Brighton to London race before, so raising money combining all of this seemed fitting.

"He sadly passed away on 13 December aged 58, with his funeral on 7 January only three days after his mother's funeral – Mitch and I got together quickly after that wanting to do something to raise some money for a charity he would approve of."

Beyond Limits is an endurance conditional PT company formed three years ago and since inception has raised tens of thousands for various charities through many events across Thurrock and south Essex.

One of the Beyond Limits members, Hayley Fisher, has a four-year-old son called Morgan. Morgan is currently undertaking treatment for leukaemia. Hayley explained: "Morgan is now able to walk, but in January, in the first 6 months of his three and a half year treatment, he lost the ability to walk – the chemo knocked him really badly. Thankfully, he is now able to walk.

"He has another three years of treatment but he is doing well at the moment. Treatment started on New Year's Eve. It was hard for his twin sister, during treatment, she lost her playmate without much warning.

"However, Morgan is due to go back to school this week - Tudor Court Primary in Chafford Hundred, which he is very excited about, he has packed his backpack already and is excited to see his classmates.

"Sean, along with all the coaches at Beyond Limits have been fantastic and supportive. They know Morgan, and my other three children as they come along during school holidays so we don't miss training.

"Sean has spoken to me previously about organising something in the future to raise money for the Child's Oncology Unit in Basildon. Once Morgan is feeling a bit more settled, we'll hopefully get some dates in the diary!"

Sean added: "Over the years, Beyond Limits has probably raised more than £100,000 for various charities, but what I've probably only recently realised is that actually the most important thing in life is time.

"It's something you can't earn more of, and for those people who give it freely - for volunteering, or travelling to support others - it's the most precious gift, particularly when that time is being dedicated to help raise money to try and give to somebody else - like Morgan - a little extra time in life."

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