'We're pushing ourselves to the limit for charity'

The best friends will run in memory of family members they have lost to cancer

Best friends who lost family members to cancer are running 15 marathons in 15 days, "pushing" themselves "to the limit" in their memory to fundraise.

Both Gabriel Maddison, 26, from Purton, Wiltshire, and Milo Young, 26, from Bath, who have never run a marathon outside of their training, are aiming to raise £10,000 for the charity Purple Heart Wishes, based in Cirencester.

The pair will set off on Saturday, running from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Brighton.

They said what they family member had gone through was "much more difficult than this challenge – so it's just putting ourselves in a position where we want to suffer a little bit for them", Mr Maddison said.

Gabriel Maddison says when his grandfather died, he found it "hard to process"

In July 2024, Mr Young's mother, Natalie Young was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer that spread to her liver.

She had emergency surgery and died in December following complications.

In 2024, Milo Young's mother was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer that spread to her liver

"If I ever think about it too much, it becomes a bit overwhelming," Mr Young said.

"With a challenge like this, she would be beyond excited for me and completely back me the whole way."

Meanwhile, Mr Maddison said his uncle Alex Meers was in peak physical health when he died of leukaemia in 2006, leaving the whole family "shocked".

Mr Maddison said it was a "shock" when his uncle, Alex (pictured), died from leukaemia

His grandfather Peter Maddison also subsequently died from cancer.

Mr Maddison said: "During that time I was studying and couldn't really process it.

"You live on with the stories that are told - you just wish that those loved ones were here now and could tell you the stories themselves."

He said the challenge was "all about paying homage to these people".

The pair said they expected to get across the finish line with motivation from friends and family, even if they "have to crawl".

"We'll be pushing ourselves to the limit in their memory," Mr Young added.

The challenge starts on Saturday and will end in Brighton on 19 July.

• Details of help and support with cancer are available at BBC Action Line.