Rugby player Ben Makowiecki admits to being the last person that might be expected to run a marathon. But the 33-year-old from Eye has a special reason for joining forces with 50 runners from across the country taking part in next year's Rome Marathon in honour of 26-year-old Sophie Drury, who died in April after bravely battling ovarian cancer for almost a decade.

Rugby player Ben Makowiecki admits to being the last person that might be expected to run a marathon.

But the 33-year-old from Eye has a special reason for joining forces with 50 runners from across the country taking part in next year's Rome Marathon in honour of 26-year-old Sophie Drury, who died in April after bravely battling ovarian cancer for almost a decade.

His wife Charlotte and Mrs Drury were childhood friends who grew up in neighbouring villages, near Swindon. And he is hoping to raise £2,500 towards the group's target of £100,000 to be shared between the Macmillan cancer charity and the Prospect Hospice at Swindon.

“Sophie was my wife's best friend from the age of two, so it is very personal. They were very close right up to April. The marathon is on March 22 and it's the first time I'll have run any distance longer than a rugby pitch,” he said.

He also paid tribute to Mrs Drury who was determined to live life to the full, although the cancer had spread to other tissues outside the pelvic area such as the bowel. She defied the odds, and ran, skied, went scuba diving and even trekked in the Himalayas.

“Sophie was such an inspiration to so many people. After she died, I wanted to do something to help honour her memory and running the marathon to raise money for her charities will be a fitting way to do so,” added Mr Makowiecki, who regularly turns out for Diss Rugby Club.

Donations can be made on line via the website www.sophie's legacy.org