A father is to compete with his daughter in the London Marathon to honour the memory of his sister who died after battling breast cancer.

Charlie Dyke, with his daughter Vicky Harmer, 30, is in training for the London Marathon in a bid to carry on the charity work which his sister Helen Plummer, who died in 2006 aged 44, first started.

The marathon takes place on April 17, and will be Charlie's fifth running event raising money for Breast Cancer Campaign, but his first London Marathon.

Both Mr Dyke, 58, and his daughter, from North Walsham, have previously ran half-marathons, but this year they are aiming to run double the distance for hopefully double the money.

Their target is to raise �5,000.

Before her death Mr Dyke promised his sister he would carry on raising money for Breast Cancer Campaign by completing running events for as long as he was able.

He said: 'She was an inspiration during her two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. She was driven by the fact that she did not want other families suffering the same fate.

'We want to continue the work she started.'

Helen, who would have been 50 this coming November, was owner of Vogue Hairstyles North Walsham and lived in Ridlington.

She was married with four children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2004.

She had a double mastectomy followed by several treatments of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but was told in 2005 that she was terminally ill and that the cancer had spread to her lungs, bones and brain.

She managed to turn the devastating news into something positive and started her charity work with the support of her family and friends.

In 2005, she was strapped to a Tiger Moth plane for her first fund-wraising event, then she wanted a big charity day, so it was all arranged and was held at The Lighthouse Inn in Walcott in July 2006. The whole event raised nearly �10,000.

In 2007 a similar event was held at The Lighthouse in Helen's memory and raised around �10,000 once again with all money donated to different cancer charities.

The Breast Cancer Campaign Charity is very close to Mr Dyke and his daughter's hearts as it is one which Helen supported before she died.

In order to help raise money for the marathon, a dance event is being held at North Walsham Community Centre on Friday, March 11, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are �7 and available from the Station Road, Mundesley Road and Happisburgh Road Stores in North Walsham, all of which Mr Dyke runs.

They are also available from Jo Inch on 01263 834925.

To donate to the cause, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlieVicky The total raised so far is �2,000.

For more information or to donate by cheque you can contact Charlie Dyke on 01692 405270, Vicky Harmer on 01692 406626 or Lorraine Wright on 01692 404986.