The Cornish Marathon takes place on Sunday – and two members of East Cornwall Harriers are going to attempt to run it twice in succession.

Mark Davidson, a long-serving East Cornwall Harrier, is calling it the 52 Challenge and it is an UltraMarathon run that has not been attempted on this course.

And he is being joined by club mate Oli Jones.

Mark has been motivated to take up this challenge after hearing that one of his friends in Wales, Samantha Ward-Jones, is desperately trying to raise funds for a special targeted therapy drug Pertuzumab to treat her secondary breast cancer.

Mark, a lecturer in oceonography at Plymouth University, is also trying to highlight the post code lottery which means that this drug is not available in Wales but is in England.

To help you can donate to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/SamCan.

Mark has successfully run six IronMan triathlons and competed in the World Championship in Hawaii, coming 26th in his category, a brilliant achievement.

Another Harrier, Liskeard teacher Oliver Jones, on hearing of Mark’s challenge immediately offered to run with him – which will be a great boost to Mark.

Oli himself has successfully completed three Ironman Triathlons, this year’s winner of the 34-mile Dartmoor Ultra, and winner of Imerys Trail Marathon and many other distance races.

Oli is himself a cancer survivor and acutely aware that cancer can be beaten but it does take money.

Oli also has a page for people to donate www.justgiving.com/olijones52.

The Cornish Marathon is the grand finale of the Cornwall Glass & Glazing Grand Prix series and the 14th race in this year’s event.

It is the only all-road marathon in Cornwall and nationally is regarded as one of the toughest UK challenges. This year 20 Harriers are entered for the race

East Cornwall Harriers welcomes local support for the marathon, which starts at Millenium House in Pensilva and follows a route to Jamaica Inn and ends back in Pensilva.

There are numerous great vantage points at Pensilva, Golitha Falls, Wenmouth Cross, Bolventor and Tokenbury Corner. Crowds really do lift the runners spirits.