A STUDENT will be taking her place on the start line of the Reading Vitality Half Marathon in memory of her brother.

Guy Bishop was diagnosed with a fatal brain cancer in 2013. He died just eight months later at the age of 22.

Guy was part way through a degree in land management at Harper Adams University when he was diagnosed.

During his illness CLIC Sargent helped support his family including little sister Holly.

Now Holly, who studies at the same university, is taking on a marathon for each of the eight months her brother was ill.

"Guy and I had a typical sibling relationship," she said.

"We fought daily when we were growing up; he would do anything to embarrass me and I would do anything to get him into trouble, but I wouldn't have changed that for anything.

"Guy had such a contagious smile and he was smart, kind-hearted, funny and spontaneous.

"Whenever I speak to anyone at university who knew him, they always have hilarious and lovely stories to share.

"l will always be proud to call Guy my big brother. He is, and will always be, very missed by so many and I often wonder what adventures he would be up to now if he was still with us."

Beginning with The Great North Run in 2015 Holly has been taking the challenges as she battles to raise £50,000 for the charity that helped her during Guy's illness.

She continued: "CLIC Sargent were amazing during Guy's illness, providing financial, practical and emotional support.

"They allowed him to be able to do the things he wanted to do in the precious time he had left with us, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.

"I honestly can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done, and now look for any way possible to raise money to support the amazing work they do.

"This will be my first Reading Half Marathon, and I’m incredibly excited for it. I’ve heard amazing things about the race, from its fast times to its stadium finish.

"I always used to be a sprinter and never understood why anyone would want to run a half or full marathon. My mindset has completely changed now, through meeting people with shared experiences."

So far she has raised £29,000.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Holly-Bishop5 to support her efforts.