A GROUP of Tottington children will be making a marathon effort for a cancer charity next week.

Youngsters at a Rainbows group in the town will each be running a mile to raise money for The Christie on Thursday, April 19.

The cumulative marathon was the idea of mother-of-three Nicola Stewart, whose daughter Maisie attends the group, which is based at St Anne’s Church, Tottington.

The 39-year-old was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013 while pregnant with her youngest daughter Eliza.

To mark five years in remission, Nicola says she wanted to do “something significant”, so decided to run five marathons in 2018, raising money for The Christie, where she received her treatment.

And she decided to invite the Rainbows group to join in on the act by taking part in their own challenge.

The 16 Rainbows will each be getting sponsored to run a mile along the Kirklees Trail, from the bus terminus at the bottom of Laurel Street towards Greenmount and back.

The remaining ten miles will be made up by Nicola and helpers at the Rainbows group.

The youngsters will be provided with goodie bags once they have finished their mile.

Nicola said: "I always say keeping fit is an investment in your health and it is important that kids start at a young age so they keep that up for the rest of their lives."

When the challenge was suggested to her, Rainbows leader Gill Ormerod said the idea ‘struck home’.

She added: “My sister-in-law died from cancer last year and my father is suffering from bowel cancer at the moment; when Nicola approached us he was having his radiotherapy at the Christie so it really struck home.

“They are so wonderful and have touched so many people’s lives so we thought it would be a great idea to raise some money for them.

“It’s also a good way for our young girls to be aware of others’ problems and how they can help.”