All-day surfing to help charity

More than 20 windsurfers took part in an all-day surf session on the Hampshire coast on Sunday to raise money for a new cancer charity.

Surfers were in the water from sunrise to sunset during the inaugural fundraising event for Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research at Hayling Island.

The charity was formed by David Tuttlebee, from Surrey, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006.

Mr Tuttlebee came out of hospital for the day for the event.

He had been hoping to take part but was taken into hospital last week with a viral infection.

"I've been through chemotherapy, it finished only a week last Wednesday," he said.

"I've done the hard bit and at the 11th hour [an infection] stopped me actually being on the water.

Mr Tuttlebee was told last year his cancer had returned

"But the camaraderie and people raising money for this charity is absolutely fantastic."

Mr Tuttlebee, who lives in Camberley, discovered he had colon cancer after having an emergency operation for appendicitis in May 2006.

A tumour was removed from his bowel, he had chemotherapy and was later told he was in remission.

However, shortly after setting up Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research in September last year, he was told the cancer had returned.

Mr Tuttlebee, who has just finished seven months of chemotherapy, is planning to turn the Sunrise Sunset surf day into an annual event.

Sunday's main event was held at Hayling Island but windsurfers around the UK and abroad also took part.

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