A TOTTINGTON father and son will go head-to-head in a triathlon tomorrow.

Oliver and Joe Coleman will take on the Skipton Triathlon in memory of Oliver's mum and Joe's wife Margaret, who died after a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2015.

The pair hope to raise money and awareness for blood cancer charity, Bloodwise.

Oliver, aged 15, who is a pupil at Tottington High School, is a keen sportsman, having previously represented Lancashire at squash and played alongside dad Joe in the adult North East Squash league.

In 2014, he also took part in a world record swim with his older brother Lewis in which 100 swimmers swam 100 metres in record time. They included Olympic medallists Rebecca Adlington and Jazz Carlin.

And his sporting prowess does not stop there. He recently set a new Bury schools record while running the 300m in a cross-schools meet.

Now, Oliver will be following in the footsteps of his father, a former sergeant major in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End back in 2017, raising thousands in the process.

Joe, aged 59, is still going strong himself is planning to take part in Ironman in 2020.

Since Margaret was first diagnosed with the condition back in 2012, the Coleman family have helped to raise more than £100,000 for Bloodwise.

Joe said: “During the early days of her illness, Maggie was placed on a trial drug, the kind of drug that Bloodwise raise money for: important work and vital research to win the fight against blood cancer.

"The support we as family received from Bloodwise was first class and everlasting, including a family trip to Disneyland Paris. Bloodwise was instrumental in giving Maggie and us another two Christmases as a family.

"Now Oliver is old enough to compete in events like triathlons it is our mission to take them on together to continue Maggie’s legacy and ensure that all those affected by blood cancer get the help they need.”

To follow their progress or donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/olivercoleman.