AN Ilkley teacher is set to run the 82 mile Dales Way in honour of his parents who both lost their lives to cancer.

Hadley Nicholson, a teacher at Ghyll Royd School in Burley-in-Wharfedale, has set himself the solo challenge of running the 82 mile Dales Way - which links the towns of Ilkley, to Bowness-in-Windermere, Cumbria - in under 20 hours.

He will set off on Sunday, May 27 and supported by friends along the way he will run through the night, arriving in Bowness in time for breakfast. He is raising money for the Roy Castle Cancer Foundation.

In 2001 Hadley lost his mother to cancer, and before that his father to the same disease in 1997, when Hadley was just 16-years old. “As I watched them suffer, with very little complaint, I was struck with how indiscriminate the illness is and how it can expose our own helplessness," he said. "I will complete this run to honour, in some small way, their own grace and grit."

Having recently returned from injury, Hadley has been training since November, generating interest through Facebook, Instagram and his personal running blog.

Hadley, 38 said: “I have been overwhelmed with the support that has already come in. Each new email, message or monetary donation is a new name or face added to those that already whirl about my head when I am out training. It is an incredible motivation.”

You can find out more by contacting Hadley Nicholson at tundy_9@hotmail.com or visiting his website at www.daleswayultra2018.wordpress.com.