A Hampshire couple are due to take on the London Marathon in memory of their eldest son, Jake.

Parents, Nick and Kate Mellor from Holbury will be taking on the 26.2 mile challenge after their Jake passed away at the age of eight in 2018.

When he was two weeks old, he had developed meningitis which left him with scarring and brain damage, leading to him being diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The couple threw everything into making sure Jake had everything he needed and it was through the support network the family had created that Kate was introduced to Sebastian’s Action Trust.

Daily Echo: Jake Mellor.

Kate said she never thought she would need the bereavement side of the Trust as Jake’s condition was thought to be life-limiting, but not life-threatening.

Having enjoyed jogging in the past as a coping mechanism, the couples bereavement councillor asked if they would like two fundraising tickets to do the London Marathon.

Now Nick and Kate are set to take on the challenge on October 3, having previously only ever ran a half-marathon, and will also be raising money for the trust to enable it to help other families who require bereavement help.

Kate said: "At Jake’s funeral, I can remember just spending hours being hugged by friends and family, over 400 people attended Jakes funeral. I remember seeing, in amongst all those people, our outreach worker Sue, with two huge teddies for Jakes sisters.

She added: "Child bereavement is a really difficult thing to comprehend and there's so many families like us who need the support they offer and the services they provide so it's definitely a big motivator."

Daily Echo: Nick and Kate Mellor.

Now a fundraising page has been set up for the challenge, with over £2,400 having been raised of the £5,000 target so far.

The couple who are in their 40s have two daughters who have also been supported by the trust following the passing of their brother.

Kate added: "Nick and I are absolutely thrilled to have been given the chance to run the London Marathon, in memory of our precious Jakey and supporting Sebastian’s Action Trust”.

“When Jake died, we became one of their Butterfly families. The bereavement support they have given us all has been a real life saver. They continue to include and remember Jakey, they support the girls and us in so many ways so we can’t think of a better charity to run 26.2 miles for”.

The fundraising page for Nick and Kate's marathon challenge can be found here.