A COUPLE who cycled thousands of miles to defy a rare incurable cancer have received JustGiving's Fundraising Team of the Year for their Royal Marsden Hospital campaign.

Emmy and Jake Coates, who live in Luckington, were presented with the award on Tuesday, November 22 after their story about Emmy's diagnosis in April, combined with their positivity and daily updates from their whirlwind journey from London to Copenhagen on a tandem, which has helped raise nearly £90,000, caught the attention of thousands.

"I was totally shocked," Mrs Coates admitted. "It was the biggest honour and never in a million years did we expect anything like this! It has been such a team effort from everybody involved and we feel so grateful.

"People have been so generous and some people have been running marathons and doing winter bake sales and static cycles. It is thanks to everyone around us that we have raised so much and a lot of these people we do not really know! I keep saying this and I honestly do mean it but it makes me want to be a better person. What people are doing for us is totally blowing us away."

Only 300 people in the last 12 years have been affected by medullary thyroid cancer and Dr Coates hopes that his wife's story will continue to inspire others to raise money and awareness of the disease.

He said: "Emmy has told me not to make it about her and to make it about us but she is so incredible and from the beginning of her diagnosis, to our adventure and the wedding, she has not been anything but positive and it has been a blast to be her sidekick.

"I keep saying how kind everyone has been but I have also really noticed people who have said they have done something because of Emmy's story. When you realise that it is changing people's lives or making someone do something different - it is amazing."

In an attempt to get the fundraiser closer to its £100,000 goal, the couple have also created and self published their own children's book about their journey across Europe with which has been flying off the shelves.

So far, more than 800 copies of Tara and Tyrone: Stuck in the Mud have been sold so far and they are confident that the first edition will be sold out in time for the festive season.

For more information about their story, their book or to donate visit www.facebook.com/ejtandemonium.