A GROUP of friends from across the country will hold a 24-hour “gaming marathon” in Bury in honour of their friend who died from cancer.

The MadDog Marathon will raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and see gamers play computer and arcade games for 24 hours continuously at the Arcade Club in Cork Street.

The event, which will also be streamed online, is in memory of 24-year-old Scott Manderson, from Leeds, who died in May 2016 after battling bone and lung cancer for two years.

Participants, who knew Scott through the online gaming community, will travel from across England to take part.

But the event will also be open to the public to join in and watch, with collection buckets being passed around during the gaming marathon.

Ashley Jones, who owns the website www.n-europe.com through which the event has been organised, said he and several other friends contacted Scott’s family to tell them about the fundraiser and asked which charity they should donate to.

Scott’s family recommended the Teenage Cancer Trust because of the support it gave Scott.

“Scott was a very friendly and outgoing person, even when going through his illness,” said Ashley.

“We wanted to do something that was relevant to what Scott loved doing.”

The 29-year-old, who lives in London but is travelling to Bury for the event, added: “We will be thinking of Scott and hopefully be able to get through the 24 hours through sheer determination and a lot of caffeine.”

The gaming marathon will run from midday on Friday November 11 until midday on Saturday November 12.

Entry costs £10, or £5 for under-16s, and gives unlimited access to all the machines.

To donate to the cause, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/maddogmarathon and more information on the event can be found at: https://maddogmarathon.wordpress.com/about/