'Inspirational' Everton fan puts rivalry aside for Liverpool supporting brother

Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport

Saturday's derby between Liverpool and Everton usually divides families on Merseyside but that won't be the case for one pair of siblings this weekend.

On Sunday, Blues fan and first-team fitness coach Jack Dowling will begin a gruelling challenge of completing 26 marathons in as many weeks as part of a fundraiser after Reds supporting brother Tom was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2022.

The campaign will begin in his home town of Crosby and running a marathon a week will end in April's London Marathon, with Jack running the equivalent distance from Liverpool to Berlin.

Jack, who has been with the Toffees for the most part of eight years, said: "It doesn't matter what I am going through, this is what keeps me going. The support from the players has been amazing.

"We are a split family, I am the only Everton fan so growing up is has been tough at times. It is always good banter around the derby.

"The diagnosis was a shock and you have to deal with it by going for a run and this is where the challenge comes in. This is something for me to show to Tom what I can do for him. During difficult times you are brought closer together."

Tom, who has been supported by Macmillan, said: "It is some feat, I don't envy his feet and legs after that. No matter what I am going through, that is a lot harder.

"A wide range of support has been provided and my head was a mess when I first got the news, I went to talk to someone for a few sessions and it was helping but not as much as I thought it would.

"It is fantastic what he is doing, crazy but fantastic."

Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who is currently injured, added: "For the last five months, I have become really close to Jack because he is one of the main ones trying to get me back to fitness.

"What strikes me about Jack is that he is humble, puts everyone else before himself and really hard working. What he is doing for his brother is inspirational."