A young farmer who suffers from cancer is applauding his girlfriend for her marathon effort - despite the fact that she initially described his illness as 'man flu'.

Dan Eames, 26, was taken to hospital after feeling unwell but his girlfriend, Nicola Woodley, said that he was just suffering from a touch of 'man flu'.

But Dan and Nicola were both shocked when doctors found blood clots in this neck, before diagnosing him with non-Hodgkin B lymphoma.

Now Dan is in remission, and Nicola is taking part in the Virgin London Marathon to celebrate.

Before being diagnosed Dan worked on his family's home in Tregony, and would regularly wake at 5am to start milking.

But since his diagnosis in 2015 marine-biology student Nicola has had to help Dan with his medication, including steroid injections.

Nicola, 23, who lives in Lostwithiel, said: “Every day I went into hospital and saw him, with tubes and beepers attached to him, so pale and sometimes even green.

"It made you realise that cancer gets even the strongest and healthiest of people.

“I am running the London Marathon for Dan, and aim to raise as much money and awareness as possible.

“Yet even with all of this negativity, it has brought us closer together, and more determined to take life by the horns.

“Quite frankly I am going to run this race for Dan and his family, I never ever want to go through anything like that again, and the fewer people to go through it, the better.

“Cancer doesn't have a preference and will pick on even the healthiest of people. Just like Dan. I never imagined at the age of 26 and 22 we would have to be dealing with cancer.”

This year's Virgin Money London Marathon will be held on April 23, and is raising funds to help Cancer Research UK.

Around 38,000 competitors are expected to take part in the race, and Nicola is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity.

Last year, Cancer Research UK's Marathon team raised £1.6 million to help accelerate life-saving research.

Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Cornwall, said: “It’s thanks to the support of people like Nicola that we are able to go on making progress in the fight against cancer.

“There is still time for anyone who already has a place in the Virgin Money London Marathon to join our fantastic team of runners. Or if you are inspired by Nicola’s experience why not try one of our other runs.

“Every day, around 85 people in the South West are diagnosed with cancer.

"Everyone who pulls on their trainers for Cancer Research UK will know every step they take brings us a step closer to winning the race against the disease.”

Anyone who may wish to sponsor Nicola can do so by visiting justgiving.com/fundraising/Nicola-Woodley2017.