A former Lancashire journalist diagnosed with stage 4 cancer has completed a sponsored run and smashed his fundraising target.

Paul Berentzen, who lives in Chorley, and is married to Becky, set a £150 target for running 5km in ten days - something he could have only dreamed about a few months ago. Instead the 35-year-old dad of two, a former news editor at our sister paper Blackpool Gazette, raised £3,000 and said he’s ‘blown away’ by the support he has received.

Paul Berentzen, a former Blackpool Gazette reporter, took on an epic running challenge for charity after being diagnosed with stage four cancer | Paul Berentzen

placeholder image — Paul Berentzen, a former Blackpool Gazette reporter, took on an epic running challenge for charity after being diagnosed with stage four cancer | Paul Berentzen

The challenge comes after a gruelling year in which he spent seven weeks in hospital and underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. Most of his hospital stay was spent struggling to breathe without medical support. Thankfully, he is now in full remission.

Writing on his fundraising Facebook page, he said: “I genuinely didn’t expect this many people to care about me doing a few runs - although admittedly it’s such a good cause that maybe my original £150 target was a bit on the low side. But I have been blown away by the generosity and support of so many people.

Their support spurred him on at the beginning of the run when he literally wasn’t sure if his ‘poor lungs woudl be able to cope’.

He said: “And it kept me going up that hill at the 4km mark when I thought my legs couldn’t take any more.

“I could barely run 1km when I started but my fitness has increased hugely over the month. Not bad for someone who struggled to walk to the corner shop a year ago.

“So thank you - not just for supporting such an amazing charity that means so much to me and my family, but also helping me in my own recovery.

“And a special thank you to Amelia (his daughter), who was so determined to support that she managed her first ever 5km run without stopping to help get me over the line on my final run of the month.”

Paul began his journalism career at the North West Evening Mail before joining The Gazette in 2013. During his time at the paper he won national recognition, scooping three National Council for the Training of Journalists excellence awards and being named Trainee Reporter of the Year. He later worked as a press officer before returning to The Gazette as news editor, eventually leaving the paper again in 2021.

Sharing his story online, Paul urged people to support cancer research if they could. He said: “If I can beat cancer, I can do this.”