The wife and daughter of a West Cumbrian gym owner who died of a brain tumour will take on the Great North Run to help fund research into the disease.

Tom Pooley, who owned women's gym Energize on John Street, Workington, died last year aged 69.

Now his daughter Jenna Pooley Pears, 31, and her mother Margaret Pooley, 59, will take on the challenge to raise cash for the Brain Tumour Research charity in his memory.

Jenna, a primary school teacher, said: "Dad’s illness was shocking for us all and it has opened my eyes to the devastating impact this disease can have. I hope to raise money and awareness for research into brain tumours and inspire others to fundraise for this worthy cause too."

Mr Pooley, who ran Energize for 27 years, was diagnosed with a grade four gliosarcoma – a highly aggressive type of tumour – in November 2016.

Despite receiving treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy he died in July 2017, just seven months after his diagnosis.

Jenna said: "I am looking forward to running the Great North Run with my mum and the support I’ve already had from my family and friends has been amazing. Training for the event has given me a great deal of purpose through the last year and I am proud to be taking the positive step of fundraising through my bereavement."

The pair, who will be joined by friends Leoni Smith and Laura Main, both 31, and Margaret’s sister Sandra Sedgewick, 51, are motivated by the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the devastating disease.

Jenna and Margaret will be among thousands of runners taking part in the 13.1 mile course on September 9.

They are part of a team of 42 raising money for Brain Tumour Research which funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and finding a cure.

Carol Robertson, head of community fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are extremely grateful for Jenna and Margaret’s support and wish them all the best for the event. Tom’s story reminds us all that less than 20 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers. We cannot allow this situation to continue."

To sponsor Jenna and Margaret visit https://bit.ly/2OR0C9L