Brantham club to hold 24-hour run for bowel cancer charity

Emma Marsland has previously run two marathons to raise money for bowel cancer research charities

A running club will be completing a 24-hour charity run to raise money for bowel cancer research.

Brantham Leisure Centre Running Club, known as BLC on the Run, will start the challenge at 18:00 GMT on 9 February.

The fundraiser was inspired by the husband of a member, Steve Marsland, 39, who is battling incurable bowel cancer.

Club chairman Clive Thomas said: "We really wanted to show our solidarity by doing something positive."

Mr Marsland was diagnosed with bowel cancer five years ago, but has a rare gene mutation which has made it incurable.

Since his diagnosis, the father-of-two has undergone more than 100 rounds of chemotherapy, but has continued to work as a principal networks technologist at BT.

Some members of the club have committed to running ultra marathon distances during the fundraiser

His wife, Emma, described him as "an incredible husband to me, and dad to Austin and Riley". The couple live with their seven-year-old twin boys in Brantham village in Suffolk.

Mrs Marsland revealed her husband's "incredible strength" had already inspired her to take part in two London Marathons, to raise money for bowel cancer charities.

The national account manager at 3M, who is a member of BLC on the Run, said she hoped the 24-hour run would also raise funds and awareness about the disease.

"[It is] the fourth most common cancer but the second biggest killer, with someone being diagnosed every 15 minutes," she said.

"If bowel cancer is caught in the early stages, there is a ninety per cent chance of a cure, but if the early symptoms are not recognised it can be significantly worse."

Mr Thomas added: "Our club has been inspired and humbled by Steve and Emma's story.

"The response from our members and local businesses has already been fantastic."

The "Miles for Marsland" JustGiving page has raised £3,000, which is far more than the £500 target.

Members of the club in Suffolk will run set times or distances, including ultra marathons, during the 24-hour period at Brantham Leisure Centre. There will also be a fun run for children at 14:00 GMT on 10 February at the leisure centre.