HE might not be able to talk to his grandfather about his terminal cancer diagnosis but that hasn't stopped 18-year-old Liam Fursman doing something practical.

That was running from Crewkerne to West Bay on Sunday and trying to raise £500 for Cancer Research.

He's smashed his target and has topped £825.

Far from minding about his lack of communication Mr Fursman, from Beaminster, couldn't be prouder.

Mr Fursman, 69, got his diagnosis last November after months of unexplained and apparently unrelated symptoms.

It was a young locum who sent him for a scan and a growth was discovered on his pancreas.

He said: "Liam couldn't really talk to me about it.

"I guess he just found the conversation too difficult.

"He obviously found it easy to come and see me, quite often in fact, but never, ever broached the subject."

The Beaminster School student has already raised £4690 to travel to Ecuador to help build medical centres, schools and replanting in the Amazon.

But his 14-mile run - joined by school friends - was for his beloved grandfather.

Liam said: "My name is Liam, but it is not my story I am telling. Instead it is my granddad's, his sister-in law and my granddad's best friend. They all share the same issue as their life is being cut short from the horrible disease of cancer.

"After my granddad was diagnosed I couldn't just comfort him and have decided that with no control over their terminal disease I would raise some money for Cancer Research and thereby do what I could to support something that was otherwise out of my control."

Mr Fursman added: "I was impressed when he did it. When he said he was going to do it his mum and dad didn't believe him.

"I am lucky to have a very dear and best friend in Chard who has got liver and kidney cancer who is in a very difficult situation and my sister-in law's the same so we are a trio and Liam came up with this as way of expressing his need to help.

"The diagnosis came as a huge shock and was difficult to cope with for a week or two but we have got to deal with it."

Mr Fursman was given a six-month prognosis and that's nearly up but he says with the regular chemotherapy he isn't feeling too bad.

He added: "They said the chemo is a delay rather than cure.

"A lot of people think it is my problem but it isn't, it's my family's.

"I have three wonderful sons and a really wonderful wife Mary who doesn't let me do anything I shouldn't do, she works incessantly to keep me well and comfortable.

"I am a hugely lucky my in one way, it isn't good luck getting this but it is good in one way that you have people around you that are always there.

"I wanted a way of saying thank you to Liam and a little bit of recognition for a wonderful grandson."