A fireman has paid tribute to his wife by raising £1,100 for the hospital where she was treated before losing her battle with cancer.

John Simmonds, 35, took part in a triathlon around the Excel Centre in Docklands to raise the cash, which will be used to buy new equipment for the Barnet Hospital’s chemotherapy lounge.

Mr Simmonds, of South Hertfordshire, said: “For me, the main reason was to give something back to the chemotherapy lounge. They make it so much easier to come back here, week after week.”

Mr Simmonds’ wife Louise was just 32 when she died of breast cancer in March 2011. Their son Finn was three years old at the time.

Chemotherapy team leader Jane Dean said: “A huge thank you to John for all his hard efforts. Louise was a very special person.”

Previously Mr Simmonds has raised cash for the hospital which was spent on comfortable chairs for cancer patients.