Matthew SparkesA Norfolk woman who lost her close friend to bowel cancer is running the London Marathon for charity on what would have been his birthday.Katie Adcock, 24, will run the 26-mile course in memory of Nathan Bray, who died last year at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.Matthew Sparkes

A Norfolk woman who lost her close friend to bowel cancer is running the London Marathon for charity on what would have been his birthday.

Katie Adcock, 24, will run the 26-mile course in memory of Nathan Bray, who died last year at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Miss Adcock helped Mr Bray to quickly arrange a wedding when he was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer last year.

A small and intimate ceremony was held at the hospital and attended by just 20 family members and their closest friends.

Nathan, who was born in Attleborough and attended school there before going on to City College in Norwich, died five days later, having fulfilled his last wish of marrying trainee police officer Aneliese.

Now Miss Adcock, who teaches a special needs class at Sheringham Woodfields School, is hoping to raise �2,000 for the charity Beating Bowel Cancer in his memory.

"I think it was a week or two after he died that we were thinking of things we could do, and I said I'd always wanted to run the marathon," she said.

"There are moments when I'm training and I think, 'What on earth am I doing?' But then I think of him and I just think, 'Right, I've got to do it, I've got to keep going on.'"

She said that Mr Bray was a "completely lovely and genuine" man, and that the marathon would fall on what would have been his 33rd birthday, April 25.

"That makes it all the more special, really," she said.

Nathan worked as a printer for over a decade, was a keen footballer, playing for Shropham Reserves, and had recently become a town councillor for Attleborough.

Miss Adcock has also organised an evening of live music at Watton Sports Centre tonight to help reach her target.

Local bands Loucaine and Mallard have donated their time for free and will be playing at 8pm.

A group of Nathan's friends have also been planning a cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End later in the year to raise cash.

� To donate money to Miss Adcock's marathon attempt, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/katieadcock.

� Is someone you know planning to raise money for charity? Call reporter Matthew Sparkes on 01603 772439 or email on matthew.sparkes@ archant.co.uk.