A father-of-one from Bushey, whose wife died from cancer, took to the streets of Croydon on Monday for the Olympic torch relay.

Dan Blake was given the opportunity to have such a pivotal role in the run up to the games after being nominated by his mother Cynthia.

She decided Mr Blake deserved the chance to carry the torch because of his fundraising for cancer, following the sudden death of his wife Nicki.

The 35-year-old said: "Nicki passed away about 20 months ago at the age of 33 from pancreatic cancer.

"It was sudden, she had complained of pains in her stomach and back six weeks after giving birth to our son Joshua.

"At first her condition was put down to bending and lifting a newborn baby, and she was given anti-inflammatory medication.

"Then doctors thought it was gall stones, but an ultrasound and CT scan found that in fact she had pancreatic cancer."

Despite undergoing many bouts of chemotherapy, endoscopies and targeted radionuclide therapy, the disease had spread from her pancreas to her liver and bones and she passed away on November 11, 2010.

Mr Blake’s mother Cynthia nominated her son for the torchbearer role, describing to organisers the heartache he and her grandson have endured since Nicki’s initial diagnosis and death.

Mr Blake said: "My mum relayed what a gaping hole Nicki has left in our lives. She also highlighted that I have been fundraising for, and trying to raise awareness of, pancreatic cancer.

"I have set up a charity Nicki’s Smile, which is acting as a fundraising arm of Pancreatic Cancer UK, and since it launched in February last year, more than £270,000 has been raised for the charity.

"Not enough people know about pancreatic cancer, in terms of research and development, it is an illness which has stalled. Breast and testicular cancer, there have been developments with regard to treatment, but because pancreatic cancer is so hard to diagnose, there has been no progress.

"We live in a developed part of the world, yet about 8,000 people a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and most will die from the disease. It’s ridiculous.

"I want to change that, if I can raise money for research, if I can make people aware of pancreatic cancer, if I can save a life, then everything me and Joshua have been through will all be worthwhile.

"It’s difficult to lose your wife, we had so many plans. It’s difficult for Joshua to lose his mother - especially at such a young age. But we get by and we want something positive to come from Nicki’s death."

On Monday, Mr Blake proudly ran through the streets of Croydon with the Olympic flame, and he said his wife was not far from his mind.

He said: "It was an incredible and emotional day. I was really touched to see so many members of my family and friends and the thousands of local residents that came to support me.

"The atmosphere was electric.

"I was carrying the torch for my late wife Nicki and I know she was smiling down on a truly beautiful day.

"The torch will be passed down through the generations and treasured for eternity. It was a day I will never forget."