BROTHERS Steve and Martin Wells from Trowbridge are running the Bath Half marathon on March 15 to raise money for charities that mean a huge amount to their families.

Steve, 48, and Martin, 46, both decided not to compete in running events again but after a year that saw family and friends face huge challenges they have decided to run side by side to raise money for causes that they feel passionate about.

Martin is running for ‘A Home for Kale’ to help raise funds for Kale Turner, the son of a close family friend and a pupil of John of Gaunt pupil.

Kale was diagnosed with a tumour on his brain stem in 2017. Before the operation to remove it he suffered a brain bleed which required immediate surgery.

This bleed and a subsequent one shortly after has left Kale with locked-in syndrome. He is fully aware of his surroundings but cannot communicate.

His family home in Trowbridge is unable to be adapted for his needs and his supporters are trying to raise the £150,000 needed to get Kale home to an environment where he can be a part of his family once again.

Meanwhile, elder brother Steve is running to raise funds for the charity Breast Cancer, after his wife Claire,43, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January last year.

With two children aged 10 and 14 this was a huge shock to the family.

Thanks to surgery and radiotherapy Claire is now well but the emotional and practical challenges of the past year have been great. Mrs Wells said: “ The support I received was life-changing in terms of the way it helped me come to terms with what we were experiencing as a family.

“I rang the helpline several times, once when I was waiting to see if my cancer had spread beyond my breast and if chemotherapy would work for me.

“The wait was excruciating and distressing and they were so compassionate and just listened to my fears.

“I also became part of a Younger Women Together group for women under 45 with a breast cancer diagnosis and we met for a two day support conference in Bristol which was inspiring and reassuring and helped me so much.”

Both Steve and Martin are raising money via gofundme.

To donate to Steve’s campaign, go to www.gofundme.com/f/steve039s-campaign-for-breast-cancer-now

To donate to Martin’s appeal, go to www.gf.me/u/xggfhv