A COUPLE will run the London Marathon shackled together to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Rebecca and Nuno César de Sá will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for running the race while handcuffed to each other.

The couple, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, who have three young sons, both know the tragedy of a brain tumour diagnosis.

In January Rebecca’s best friends lost their sister, Sally, a mum aged just 47, to a brain tumour.

In February, Nuno’s step-mother Rina, 60, died just six months after her own diagnosis.

Rebecca said: “A diagnosis can be so sudden, daunting and devastating. Both families we know, when faced with such adversity, were incredible. The emotional and physical stresses and strains were unimaginable, the families were so unbelievably strong, right to the very end.

“More funds are needed to raise awareness and to provide further research into brain tumours.”

The couple decided to raise money for the charity while also attempting to break the current handcuffed world record of four hours and two minutes. Rebecca already has two Guinness World Records - after running the London Marathon as Wonder Woman and as a lifeguard.

Being chained together will present the couple with some challenges on the day.

Nuno said: “The main difficulty is that the chain’s really quite short, so even a little jolt pulls your arms. It’s difficult to get into your natural stride of running.”

“I’m quite worried that because the London Marathon course is so busy, other runners won’t realise that we’re handcuffed together and might try and run through us, or that we’ll trip up.”

“Then there’s little things like trying to get to get to a water station; you’ve only got one hand and it’s going to be tricky. We’ll have to quickly match our pace and work together.”

“Hopefully we’ll still be speaking when we get to the end”

Rebecca added: “Toilet breaks might be awkward so hopefully we won’t need one. If we do, we have to unlock the cuffs and we’re not allowed to move any distance forward at all when we’re separated.”

She added: “Nuno keeps on joking to our family and friends that he’s running with ear defenders so that he won’t be able to hear me.”

The couple have already raised more than £2,500 and are appealing for more donations at http://www.justgiving.com/RebeccaandNunoCesardeSa

Sarah Moore, events manager at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Running a marathon is no mean feat in itself, let alone handcuffed together as a couple. But this determination in crossing the finishing line and their determination to raise so much awareness and funds, is just so inspirational.”