Everton coach runs 26 marathons in 26 weeks for brother

Jack Dowling (left) came up with the challenge after his brother Tom (right) was diagnosed with cancer

A Premier League fitness coach has completed 26 marathons in 26 weeks to raise more than £72,000 in honour of his late brother.

Everton's Jack Dowling said he had "loved every minute" of his Project 26:26 runs after finishing the final one at the London Marathon on Sunday.

The 33-year-old said he decided to raise money to fund two specialist nurses after his brother Tom, who died in March, was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

He said "a couple" of Toffees stars had run with him, doing about "12 or 13k... but it’s completely different to what they are used to".

He said the original target had been to fund one Macmillan Cancer Support nurse for 26 weeks, which costs about £32,500, "so the fact we can get two is unbelievable".

“The challenge was just to go out running, keeping Tom’s mind off cancer," he said.

"Everything else was an added bonus."

Jack Dowling completed his 26 marathons in 26 weeks at the London marathon

He said his efforts meant Everton's players no longer complained when they were asked to do extra running in training.

“I’ve gained a little bit more respect for when I’m trying to get them to run in training," he said.

"If they moan at me, I’ll say ‘You can’t moan to me about running’."

However, he added that the intention was to inspire more than just the footballers he coaches.

“I said if I could get someone who had never run before to run a mile with me, it would be worth it to get them up doing exercise," he said.

“I’m glad I’ve done that and hopefully people will carry it on.”

Macmillan relationship fundraising manager Nicole Mcilveen said what the brothers had done "in terms of the community and what they have been able to create has been phenomenal as they have talked so openly about their experiences".