A TEAM of friends are aiming to complete the Great North Run - and then cycle home - in memory of a young boy who died after contracting a rare blood disease.

Four-year-old Guy Metcalfe, who was in remission from leukaemia, was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and died in October.

The youngster, who lived with his parents Tracey and James in Malton, was diagnosed with T-Cell leukaemia in August in 2014 and underwent intensive chemotherapy.

James, who works at Cooper Malton Mini, has now organised a team of 27 to take part in the half marathon on September 11 between Newcastle and South Shields to raise funds for the children's cancer charity Candlelighters.

He and two friends, Adrian Tolhurst, who owns Direct Imaging, in Malton, and Paul Tyler, from Ryedale Plumbers, will also cycle the 90 miles back home after running the race.

"It was first suggested back in January that we do it and everyone was up for it, although some have done more training than others," he said.

"I started training in April and was doing really well until I had an Achilles tendon injury which was debilitating and I had to go for physio.

"I've just started running again and recently did 10 miles which felt alright so hopefully it will be okay on the day. I have always cycled a lot so I am confident about that.

"I want to push myself and if I suffer pain for a few hours it is nothing to what Guy went through."

James said everyone had been very supportive since Guy's death.

"Tracey and I are back at work, but we are still struggling and it is really difficult to tell people how we really feel," he said.

"It is just about getting through each day while thinking about Guy. I love to talk about him - he was the proudest thing in my life.

"I have lost my best friend and life feels very very empty. Candlelighters have been, and are there for us. I would like to give a little something back."

Anyone who would like to support the team should go to justgiving.com/fundraising/J-metcalfe3