RNLI to run in name of 'larger than life' Chris Lyons

"We're all rallying behind him as the family we are"

Crew members from the RNLI will run a half marathon in memory of their colleague, who died before Christmas.

Crew members from RNLI Weston will run the Weston Super Half Marathon in memory of volunteer Chris Lyons.

Local people say the loss of his "larger than life character" has been felt across the Weston-super-Mare community.

"It means a heck of a lot to me," said Laura Morgan, Chris' partner, who is also an RNLI member.

She added that the half marathon was something Chris was training for along with the crew before he died.

The crew decided to run in his name and raise money for his son Jenson.

Chris would always get involved with the "trickiest, muddiest jobs"

Ms Morgan said: "Some of us are running to get fit, some of us are running to heal and for me that's an important one.

"And to raise that money for Jenson, I know that's what Chris would have wanted.

"We're all rallying behind him as the family we are."

Ms Morgan is training with the crew, but will not be running on the day - instead she will be cheering everyone on.

The crew decided to run in his name and raise money for his son Jenson

"He was a huge character in Weston. He'd always be the first to be there and the last to leave, usually getting involved with the trickiest, muddiest jobs," she said.

"He's hugely missed.

"A lot of us listen to songs linked to him during training. To have that release on the day [will be important].

"He would probably be a bit embarrassed, but he would be extremely proud of everybody."