A COURAGEOUS team of 35 friends, family and work colleagues from Reading are taking on Tough Mudder for a second time in memory of pancreatic cancer victim Tony Witchalls (Big T) and to raise vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer Action.

The team previously completed the challenge in 2017 after Tony was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but sadly after two years of fighting, Tony lost his battle in July 2018.

Their next Tough Mudder will take place on May 4.

Abbie, one of the team members, said: "After losing Tony and hearing of more sad diagnosis for other friends, we have decided to once again take on this difficult challenge with an even bigger team, for donations to a wonderful charity, who focus on early diagnosis and survival.

"Now that Tony has passed, this challenge has become even more important to us as we are doing it in his name and memory.

"Not a day goes by that we don't think of him.

"This awful disease took him from us, therefore it is important to us that we help raise money to help find a cure or assist with early diagnosis, so that other families do not have to go through the same experience."

Annie Whillians, events coordinator at Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: "Tony was clearly an incredibly loved man, the size of the team who’ve chosen to support us here at PCA by taking part in Tough Mudder is astounding.

"Each and every one of them are working tirelessly to help raise vital funds and important awareness of pancreatic cancer to stop other families suffering as they did.

"Tony has been referred to as a hero and his legacy remains and lives through Big T’s Army - we are so grateful to have them on board."

Pancreatic cancer is the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer and the survival rate is under 7 per cent, which is the lowest of any cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer Action is committed to working towards earlier diagnosis of the disease so that surgery, currently the only cure, is made available to the sufferer.

The charity fund research into early diagnosis, provide medical education programmes, and launch national awareness campaigns.

To donate to the team, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bigtsarmy.