TWO North-East brothers have launched an ambitious campaign to raise £10,000 in memory of their mother.

Richard and Nick Parker, from Easington Village, County Durham, want to boost Macmillan Cancer Support coffers to coincide with the 30th anniversary of their mother’s death.

Gillian Parker died after a long battle with breast cancer in 1984 and the family want to mark her memoriam with a one-year series of fundraising events, dubbed One in a Gillian.

Events, including race nights, sportsman's dinners and cabaret evenings, will culminate with the brothers trekking 100 miles along the Great Wall of China in April 2014 to round off the one-year campaign.

And the generous brothers want to ensure 100 per cent of cash donated to their efforts goes straight to charity - so they've committed to personally paying the £1,700 each required to cover the cost of their Asian expedition.

Richard will turn 44 next year, the age his mother was when she died, making their ambitious fundraising efforts all the more poignant.

Mrs Parker was a respected magistrate and parish councillor in Easington before her untimely death.

Richard said: "I was 14 when she died, and I remember thinking at the time that was quite old. Now I'm reaching the same age, I’ve realised she wasn't at all.

“She was taken from us well before her time, and now we're approaching her 30th anniversary we want to do our bit to raise money for the people who helped make her final days as comfortable as possible, and continue to help families suffering from this evil disease."

Nick, 35, added: "We want to add our support and pay another fitting tribute to our mother's name by raising this cash and helping families that are affected by cancer."

To make a donation, or to follow the Parker story visit www.oneinagillian.org.