Mark Anderson is running, and his father Andy is cycling, 136 miles from Coast to Coast across England: 34 miles a day over 4 days.

In 2010 Jean Anderson was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, and died 15 weeks later, aged 62. Her family committed to raising funds in her memory.

Between 2011 and 2014 over £7,000 has been raised for Cancer Research UK, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Macmillan Cancer Support. Jean’s husband Andy, her children Mark, Dawn and Debbie, and daughter-in-law Helen have completed open water swims and over 30 runs from 5K through to the marathon, with Andy running his first marathon at the age of 64. A sponsored walk across the Humber Bridge, organised by the hugely supportive MKM Builders, raised further funds. In July of 2011 Mark ran, and Andy cycled, the 136 mile Coast to Coast Cycle Route across northern England: a marathon a day for 5 days.

July 2015 marks five years since Jean’s death. Mark will once again be running, and Andy cycling, 136 miles from coast to coast from Whitehaven to Sunderland, this time over four days. The first coast to coast was tough for both of them; however, they are aware that moving from 27 to 34 miles a day on a route that crosses the Lake District, the Pennines and the hills of Northumberland is a much more serious undertaking, whether on foot at the age of 38 or by pedal power at the age of 68.

Mark will also be completing marathons four weeks apart in Manchester and Windermere, and half marathons in York, Sheffield and North Lincolnshire as part of his training. Dawn is running the Race for Life 10K in Harrogate in July, and Helen, Mark and Andy will be taking part in September’s Great North Run. Mark’s participation in the Yorkshire marathon in October will close our fundraising year.

Macmillan Cancer Support does fantastic work for those with cancer and their families. We have been overwhelmed with the generosity shown in our fundraising efforts so far, and we would be extremely grateful for anything you can spare.

If you feel that others may be interested in supporting this challenge, please do share the link to this page with others. You can also donate by texting JACC55 £? to 70070.

With very best wishes,

Andy, Mark, Helen, Toby and Matthew Anderson; Dawn and Madison Kelly; Debbie, Lloyd and Oliver Latibeaudiere.