A POLICE officer is preparing to stage his third charity darts event in aid of the hospital ward that treated him for breast cancer.

Mark Cross, from March, will take his fund-raising total for the Oncology Department at Peterborough City Hospital past �10,000 with this year’s effort.

The fraud squad detective was one of only 300 men in the country to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. After two operations and months of chemotherapy, the father-of-two entered remission.

Since then he has helped the Peterborough hospital ward buy an ultrasound machine and fund ongoing clinical trials with his charity cash.

The third charity darts day will take place on March 9 at the GER Sports Club, in March, from 11.30am. The event will include competitions such as cricket triples, pairs and singles as well as an auction and draw.

Mr Cross, who has played in Fenland’s darts leagues for almost 30 years, said: “I have already got some amazing auction prizes including a Manchester United framed shirt signed by the 2012-13 squad.

“There is also a Tottenham Hotspur shirt signed by 17 members of the 1999-2001 squad, a West Ham United shirt signed by Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, a Leeds United framed team sheet signed by the 2012-2013 squad and a week’s holiday in Malta.”

All eight dart boards have already been sponsored for the event - but organisers are appealing to anyone who would like to donate auction or draw prizes.

Contact Mr Cross by e-mail at crossie180@talktalk.net or call 01354 658343.