Three members of the same family will be running the London Marathon in memory of their father who died from a rare form of brain cancer.

Eastern Daily Press: Brian Cross pictured on a skiing holiday with his children Camilla (right), Rosie (left) and Tom. Picture: CROSS FAMILYBrian Cross pictured on a skiing holiday with his children Camilla (right), Rosie (left) and Tom. Picture: CROSS FAMILY (Image: Archant)

The trio from Gressenhall, near Dereham, are currently training for the famous challenge in memory of Brian Cross who passed away in 2006, aged 62.

Two of Brian's children, Rosie, 28, and Tom, 26, along with their step-father Rob Hensen, 53, will be pounding the streets of the capital to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Brian, a local businessman and former mayor, was diagnosed with a lymphoma on the brainstem.

It was declared inoperable and despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, he passed away nine months after his diagnosis.

Eastern Daily Press: Rosie, Sally and Tom Cross when they relaunched the Brian Cross Memorial Trust. Rosie and Tom will be running the London Marathon with their step-father. Picture: Matthew Usher.Rosie, Sally and Tom Cross when they relaunched the Brian Cross Memorial Trust. Rosie and Tom will be running the London Marathon with their step-father. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2013)

Tom, who recently left the Marines after four years, said: 'Dad wasn't much of a runner, but he always loved a challenge. He would be very proud of what the three of us are doing in his memory.

'My step-father, a retired teacher and head of mathematics at Gresham School, is an amazing guy – it's great to have had him on the team.

'Rob understands how important Dad was to us and still means to us.

'Rosie already has experience of running a marathon, having completed the Berlin.

'I, on the other hand, have never run a marathon.'

After Brian's death, Sally, Rosie, Tom, and his other daughter Camilla, set up the Brian Cross Memorial Trust.

They gave themselves a target of raising £1million to help fund vital research.

To date the Trust has raised more than £835,000, which has included a donation of £120,000 in 2015 to fund a research nurse over a three-year period at Brain Tumour Research's Centre of Excellence within Imperial College in London.

Sue Farrington Smith, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: 'I am delighted that Rosie, Tom and Rob and the Brian Cross Memorial Trust have joined us and our many supporters whose hard work and dedication are helping us to fund the fight.'

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via the Cross family's JustGiving page go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosie-begg or for more information visit www.briancrossmemorialtrust.co.uk.