Thieves wreck Sheffield Pride of Britain winner's fundraising day

John Price, aged 62, was on holiday in Portugal with his wife Anne when their home in Sandygate was raided in the early hours of Monday.

Thieves smashed a window to get inside and stole the couple’s Mercedes C Class car, their safe, John’s late father’s gold watch, a set of golf clubs and other items of sentimental value.

But they also stole all John’s planning for his annual golf day, which is this year due to involve around 228 people and is expected to raise £30,000 for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.

John, a father-of-two and a grandfather, started raising cash for the charity after he was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer in 2001 and treated at Weston Park Hospital.

The former plumber was put on a clinical trial at the hospital with drugs that boosted his immune system and saved his life.

His treatment cost £100,000 and John vowed to pay the cash back – organising an annual golf day to raise cash every year since.

John, who was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998 before he developed secondary cancer three years later, won a national Pride of Britain award for his fundraising efforts last year.

He said: “We are gutted, really upset that this could happen.

“When the police called us I initially thought something was wrong with one of our sons or grandchildren but when we found out they were okay there was a sense of relief and we thought that we could replace the material things.

“But then when we realised sentimental items had gone, such as my dad’s gold watch, which was the only thing he had, that’s when it hit me.

“The thought that all our plans and hard work for the golf day have been taken away is really disappointing as we will literally have to start from scratch and my fear is that this year’s may not go ahead now.

“There is such a lot to do and with the golf day just around the corner it is a worry.

“I hope that if anyone knows who did this they will come forward and go to the police.

“Weston Park Hospital will be the one to suffer if this burglary stops the golf day going ahead this year.”

Samantha Kennedy, director of the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, said: “We are incredibly upset and disappointed by the news of our fundraiser, volunteer and patron, John Price, having his house burgled and valuable possessions stolen.

“John and his wife, Anne, go above and beyond every year to support the work of the cancer charity and we hope that, with John’s annual golf day just around the corner, valuable items which were to be used as prizes on the popular day will be recovered in good time.”

This year’s golf day is due to take place at Hallamshire Golf Club in July, with Sheffield-born England cricketer Joe Root due to compete.

n Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101.