A BORDON teenager is paying tribute to his grandmother's courage by running in a marathon to raise money for a cancer charity. Luke Theakston, 18, decided to set himself the challenge of competing in the Edinburgh marathon on Sunday, May 25, following the death of his much-loved 'Nan' last summer. Rosemarie Theakston, who died aged 67, fought various types of cancer, including lung, skin and spleen, on six separate occasions over 20 years. Luke said that as long as he knew her, she was never completely well, but he remembers a loving and kind person. "She was always there, always caring and always interested in my life. I miss her," he said. His close-knit family is encouraging him in his training, which involves running up to nine miles several times a week, and in his fundraising efforts to reach his £700 target for the Institute of Cancer Research. A former Mill Chase Community College and Alton College student, Luke is on the Walton and Hersham football scholarship scheme at Brooklands College near Weybridge. He has ambitions to play at the highest level, and to become a goalkeeping coach. Anyone who would like to sponsor Luke can donate money by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/">www.justgiving.com/ luketheakston.
