SOLDIERS will tackle the country's biggest half marathon wearing 35lbs of Army kit in memory of a colleague who died from cancer.

Eight members of the Guards Training Company, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, will take part in the Great North Run, from Newcastle to South Shields, on September 30.

They hope to raise at least £2,000 for the North East Promenaders Against Cancer (Nepac), a Newcastle charity which raises money for cancer research and hospices across the UK.

The troops are running in memory of Coldstream Guard Lance Sergeant Adrian Cross, who died in January, aged 28, three months after a bone marrow transplant.

Lance Sgt Cross, a former student of Gosforth High School and a Newcastle United fan, was based at Catterick Garrison when he was diagnosed, but was planning to move with his wife, Kelly, and daughters, Ellie, five, and two-year-old Maisie, to North Shields.

Following his transplant, he wanted to complete the 13.1-mile run to raise money for the hospital cancer team, but he died 102 days after the operation.

His mother, Sue, is also taking part in the race and hopes to raise £1,500 for Nepac.

She said: "He was such a wonderful son, brother, husband and father and he showed the most tremendous courage during his illness."

Lance Sgt Cross's cousin, Nicola Walker, and her friends will also take part in the run.

Nepac was launched in 1989 and has raised more than £1m. The next fundraising event is a concert at Newcastle City Hall on October 13, at 7pm.

Tickets are priced from £12 to £25 and are available from the box office on 0191-261-2606.

The Catterick soldiers can be sponsored via the website www.justgiving.com/guardstrainingcompany