When Ian Hoult tackles the grueling Run Bike Run challenge as part of the Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon Weekend 2017, he will do so with the memory of a special lady driving him forward.

Wendy Reed, a close family friend, died at home in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in January, five years after being diagnosed with ocular melanoma.

Following her second round of radiotherapy, Wendy’s eye had to be removed and the cancer spread to her liver in 2014. She was treatment free in 2015 but the cancer returned in 2016.

Ian, 46, from Durham, will take part in the Run Bike Run, splitting the marathon course into three segments, on foot and on bike, for the second time. He will raise money for Wendy’s Wish, a charity established by Wendy’s family to raise money for eye tumour research and to support cancer patients and their families.