Two brothers who lost their mother to cancer just weeks before Christmas are set for their second fundraising fun run in her memory.

Last year Archie and Henry Turner, from Epping, raised over £3,000 for St Clare Hospice at the Santa Dash event, and this year they hope to beat their target.

The boys’ mother Cathy Turner spent her final days at the Hastingwood hospice a month before Christmas 2013, and now the brothers are committed to raising vital money for the charity.

Archie, 13, a pupil at Davenant Foundation School in Loughton, said: “My brother and I really enjoyed last year’s Santa Dash and we were so happy with the amount of money that we managed to raise.

“We are excited to be back and starting the race this year, and we hope that we can get an even bigger team together to help raise more money for the people that took care of mum.

“Mum would be so proud of us for continuing to support St Clare.”

The boys’ aunty Susy Harrison said: “We are incredibly proud of the boys for wanting to come back again and take part in the Santa Dash in their mum’s memory… we want to give something back to St Clare to repay them for the care they gave Cathy and our family.

“Losing someone you love is never easy but knowing that my sister got to spend her last days surrounded by the people she loved, in such a beautiful place, made it that little bit easier.”

She added: “We couldn’t have received better support and care through such a hard time and that is why we want to continue fundraising for St Clare.

“We want to make sure that every family who is faced with that situation receives exceptional care, like we did.

“It really does make such a difference.”

The Santa Dash is on Sunday, December 4, at the Water Gardens in Harlow.

St Clare is encouraging people of all ages to dress as Santa and join in on either the 5km route or a shorter “mini-mile” for young children.

To register for the event, visit www.stclarehospice.org.uk/event/st-clare-santa-dash.