Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins will think of Bill Turnbull "every step of the way" as she embarks on a 26.2-mile challenge for Prostate Cancer UK.
Charlotte, 47, will don the charity's blue and black colours as she participates in Run the Month Marathon Edition in a bid to raise awareness and money for the disease, which Bill was diagnosed with in November 2017.
The former BBC Breakfast host, who was an ambassador for the charity and worked with Charlotte on Good Morning Britain and Classic FM, died at his Suffolk home on August 31 this year at the age of 66.
Charlotte is keen to honour her fellow broadcaster in the challenge which will see her run the marathon distance over the course of January.
She said: "We so very sadly lost Bill earlier this year after he bravely lived with prostate cancer for several years.
"It’s heart-breaking he’s no longer with us, and he’s very much missed. This disease affects one in eight men, and like Bill, I want to do something to raise awareness to try to prevent more men and their families suffering.
"Bill was a wonderful person to work with. He was such a professional, a brilliant broadcaster and journalist but also with a mischievous charm that could always make you laugh. He put everyone at their ease and was much loved by all who knew and worked with him.
"I know Bill loved his fitness as well, and put on his running shoes several times for charity. He’d often be doing stretches during the ad breaks when we worked together on GMB, which put the rest of us to shame.
"He always used to say running was great as you didn’t have to be good at it, or fast, you just get a sense of achievement by steadily improving. I’ll be doing this challenge in his name, and am hoping to do him proud."
Run the Month has raised more than £5.2 million since October 2020. This year, the squad includes Emmerdale 's Matthew Wolfenden, Love Island's Arabella Chi and Channel 5 presenter Rob Bell, reality TV star Elliott Wright and fitness guru Mr Motivator.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the UK – though survival rates have improved, the charity said. Former The Only Way Is Essex star Elliott is taking part in the challenge after his late father was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 and died in March 2021 after a battle with coronavirus.
He said: "I’ll be lacing up my trainers because this horrible disease has hit my family. My amazing dad Eddie was diagnosed back in 2013. By that stage, the cancer had spread outside the prostate and the news was devastating for me and the family.
"I’ve taken on this challenge before and it’s a great way to not only shake off the Turkey and Quality Street, but also to raise funds for such a brilliant cause. To hopefully ensure other men don’t suffer like he did. Dad will be on my mind when I pull on my Prostate Cancer UK running top, and knowing every step will make a difference will only fuel me further. I can’t wait to get started."
Sign up for run the month via runthemonthme.prostatecanceruk.org.
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