Pc Mark Edwards with Jack Borwn, who later tragically died

A Havering police officer who has helped raise more than £350,000 to find a cure for terminally ill children was awarded an MBE at the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

PC Mark Edwards was moved by the plight of Jack Brown, the son of two serving officers, who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma - a rare form of cancer.

Tragically, Jack died in 2009, aged seven, after a brave four-year fight against the cancer of the nervous system.

A charity, Jack’s P.A.C.K. (Police Against Cancer in Kids), was set up to help children suffering from cancer to travel to New York for treatment.

From the moment he heard about Jack’s condition, Mark began to raise funds by running marathons in New York and doing a series of challenges.

Mark, who has been with the Met for almost 26 years, said: ”When my wife told me I’d got an MBE I nearly fell off my chair. I am really humbled and stunned by this. This award is for the whole team who has helped raise the money - not just me. It really is fantastic, I am honoured and don’t feel I deserve it.”

The Borough Commander of Havering, Mike Smith, added: “Mark is greatly admired, respected and an inspiration to everyone. He has devoted his time to raising awareness and funds for treatment and research into incurable childhood cancer. He is quite simply the benchmark for all of us who aspire to help others beat this destructive disease. He is the most selfless, humble, and organised man. He will keep going because there are other children suffering and he wants to help them get better.”