Memory of teenager who died from a rare cancer kept alive in favourite video game played by more than four million people

Janet Acott is Running the Pinewoods Triathlon on the 14th June in memory of her son David Acott who died earlier this year after suffering with cancer after a liver transplant. He was going to do the Pinewoods Triathlon in Sheringham so his mother is going to take his place and run for him. Collect picture of David Acott and the family dog, Copper.Picture: MARK BULLIMORE

Heartbroken mum Janet Acott is set to step into his running shoes and take her son David's place in a triathlon this weekend.

And the 17-year-old computer games fan has also been immortalised in one of his favourite games after its makers added in a mural of him into the action.

Ms Acott from Bodham said: 'You can go into the game and walk up to the wall and see David. It's lovely.'

Techland, the makers of the game Dying Light, which is played by more than four million people, presented her with a selection of sketches to choose from to go live in the game.

Mural to David Acott in 'Dying Light' game (Image: Archant)

'He was a big gamer, and it's a big game in the gaming world. It has immortalised him,' she said.

David, who was a student at Paston College in North Walsham, died in March at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge from a cancer which developed after he had a liver transplant shortly after his 15th birthday.

The youngster, who would have been 18 on June 4, was a keen athlete and threw himself into life during a two year interval of good health, including doing the Sheringham Parkrun joined his mum.

He had signed up to do the triathlon which starts at the Pinewoods leisure centre in Bodham this Sunday - so his mother decided to run in his name.

'I will just get round. We are doing it especially because it's in his name, I will be David Acott for the day,' she said.

The triathlon includes a 300m swim, 17km cycle and a 3km run.

Ms Acott said she was 'reasonably fit' but the challenge will be something she has never done before.

Close family will be there to cheer her on and she added she hoped to get a 'bit of a crowd out'.

Family friend and Sheringham Parkrun director Karl Read said: 'When Janet crosses the it will be quite an emotional thing for her. It's very admirable.

'We have got some great memories of David and it's nice to remember them. He was such a lovely young man, always smiling at everybody.'

Mr Read said they will present the new 'David Acott Award' for one of the most deserving participants of the day.

The Parkrun also aims to start a fundraising event in memory of David next year.

Ms Acott praised everyone who was doing sponsored events in David's name, including one of his teachers at Paston College who plans to do a marathon in his name.

Between £7,000 to £8,000 has been raised for Ronald McDonald House Charity, Camberwell House by family, friends and those who knew David.

She said: 'I think this is what keeps me going. If I hadn't have had fundraising I don't know how I would keep going.

'It has kept me sane. It makes me feel like I am doing something worth while. His death isn't completely wasted, something good came out of it. That is my driving force.'