At the end of last year, just before Nick's birthday, our beloved Granny passed away peacefully in her home. That we were able to get her home, to the comfort of a place she knew, is testament to the incredible care she received from the Royal Marsden throughout the last months of her life.

We all miss her greatly; but one of our abiding memories of Granny is one of love and compassion; who fought so hard throughout her life so that everyone - regardless of their situation - should be treated with love and respect and care, especially those less fortunate.

Knowing Nick and Jonty, you would be well placed to laugh at the thought of this challenge. Jonty’s idea of exhaustive cardiovascular exercise consists mostly of walking slowly around a park with a small white ball and a big stick (“golf” I think it’s called); or standing very still in front of a dart board and occasionally flicking his wrist speculatively towards the wall. Nick on the other hand is a retired prime specimen of a prop forward. Not your usual ultramarathon competitors...

But it is in her memory, and with her concern for others as our inspiration, that we can think of few better ways to honour her memory than do everything we can - including a 53-mile challenge she might have considered lunacy! - to help those in need at the Royal Marsden hospitals.

(Plus - anyone can run a marathon, right? Might as well just run a double...)

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The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. We ensure our nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world. From funding state-of-the-art equipment and groundbreaking research, to creating the very best patient environments, we will never stop looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.