Brothers-in-law Lee Plank and Mark Fleckney are in training for their first marathon to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust in memory of Robin Plank from East Grafton who died from leukaemia last year.

The pair will be running in the London Marathon on April 25 and both are aiming to raise at least £1,500.

Mr Plank, 32, who lives in Upper Stratton in Swindon and works as a council groundsman said: “I have never run a marathon before and the reason I am doing this is because my dad passed away last year from leukaemia even though there was a bone marrow transplant in place but unfortunately dad was never well enough for it to be successful.

“I would like to thank all the people who have sponsored me already and to say thanks for the all the help I have received from Highworth Running Club, North Wiltshire Hash Group and Merv Harrowven.

“I hope to complete the marathon in under four hours and we hope to raise at least £3,000 between us.”

Mr Plank, who was brought up in East Grafton where his mother still lives in Hungerford Road, went to Pewsey Vale School and said he was hoping old school colleagues would sponsor him.

Mr Fleckney, 36, is an RAF pilot based in Northolt in Middlesex, and is married to Lee’s sister Lucy, with whom he went to school at St John’s in Marlborough. His parents also live in East Grafton.

Although he has played soccer and rugby this will be the first marathon for Mr Fleckney, who has a 19-month-old daughter.

He said: “I live in Bishopstone so I am doing most of my training on the Ridgeway.”

Both men can be sponsored via web sites: www.justgiving. com/mark-fleckney and www.justgiving.com/lee-plank.