Trowbridge woman Laura Hoskins is running the Bath Half-Marathon with a team of friends in memory of her husband Matt on the same day which would have been his 33rd birthday.

Mrs Hoskins, 30, is leading a team of 24 who will be taking part in the challenge on Sunday, March 2.

Mr Hoskins, who worked at Warminster-based furniture manufacturer Aspace, died of brain cancer at Royal United Hospital, Bath, last August.

Now friends and family are running the 13 mile city centre race in aid of Bath Cancer Support Unit Group to say thanks for their support.

Mrs Hoskins, who works at Westview Day Nursery, in Bradford on Avon, said: “Matt would be overwhelmed by all this and very proud of us. I have mixed feelings doing this on his birthday, but we just thought it meant we’d like be together doing something to honour him.”

In 2010, Mr Hoskins ran the Bath Half in one hour and 32 minutes with his best friend Rob Janes, 33, who is running as part of Mrs Hoskins team ‘First Time’.

Mr Janes, who raised £2,000, in honour of Mr Hoskins, for the Bath cancer unit by cycling to Paris, last year, said: “I said I would never do the half again as I found it relatively painful and not enjoyable as, unlike Matt, I’m not a natural runner. However times have changed. We thought this would be a fitting tribute to Matt.”

Mr and Mrs Hoskins’ daughter 21-month-old Freya, will also be doing her bit by taking part in the 1.5 mile family fun run with her aunt Leanne Whitcroft and godmothers Charlotte Adcock and Natalie Bernach.

Mrs Hoskins, of Brook Road, said: “Freya is quite determined, so whether she runs, walks or crawls she’ll complete it.”