TWO siblings from a Chagford family are heading across the Atlantic in a unique fundraising effort inspired by the tragic death of their mother.
Ron and Morny Walford bought a house in Chagford several years ago to help them enjoy a relaxed retirement lifestyle in the countryside.
Retirement meant golf and fishing were on the agenda for Ron while Morny entered fully into the spirit of their new retired lifestyle.
This was tragically cut short when Morny contracted Myeloma, a deadly form of cancer.
However, her daughter Clare and son Nic are now both hard in training as they prepare to compete in the New York marathon.
Clare will be raising money for the Myeloma UK Trust while Nic will be running for the Sue Ryder Foundation, which helped provide a high level of care for Morny in the last part of her life.
Clare said: 'Myeloma is a terrible cancer. Public awareness is very low and I hope that my running will help to increase people's knowledge whilst also raising money for the trust.
'The Trust provides huge support for families having to cope with this illness. At the same time they provide support to doctors and nurses in their struggle to find satisfactory and successful treatments.'
Clare works in London but the determination to complete the marathon and raise funds for the charity is high on her list. She uses the towpath along the Thames and the lanes in Chagford for her training runs.
Both Clare and Nic work for global companies, so support for them is coming from around the world.
Myeloma is a bone marrow disease and treatment can sometimes involve a transplant.
Morny had this treatment but the cancer returned a few years later.
Around ten to 15% of Myeloma patients are below the age of 45 years and it is one of the fastest growing cancers in the western world.
In the UK about 15,000 to 20,000 people are sufferers and there are 4,000 new cases every year.
Anyone who wishes to support this Chagford family can do so by visiting the website http://www.justgiving.com/clarewalford">www.justgiving.com/clarewalford