A TEAM of five Taunton athletes competing in a non-stop 100k race were were joined for a time by a brave toddler with one of the rarest forms of cancer.

The runners took part in the Thames Path challenge from Fulham to Henley - equivalent to two and a half marathons - to raise funds for medical research into anaplastic large cell lymphoma negative (ALP).

They were inspired to push themselves to the limit by Ruari 'Ru' Hackland, the only three-year-old in the UK with the disease. He has undergone three gruesome rounds of chemotherapy and is currently in remission.

'Ru's Angels', Kerrie Bawden, Laura Davenport, Matthew Haslett, Jo Lowe and Jo Routley, all aged between 37 and 50 and members of Taunton Running Club, spent months training for the run, which they completed in just over 16 hours.

They are friends of Ru's parents, John and Cat, who used to live in Taunton.

Kerrie said: "It was a really special day, a massive achievement.

"We all had our highs and lows, but we started together and ended together.

"After months of training, planning and fundraising, we were all emotional at the end."

She added: "Ru surprised us by turning up with his mum and brothers at the 70k mark and they ran with us for a while, which really boosted us at that point."

The runners have already raised more than £6,800 for research into ALP - you can still donate via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/RuAngels

Kerrie said: "There's no research into Ru's form of cancer and no case studies.

"We want to raise as much as possible for research into ALK, which is very rare.

"Ru has been so brave throughout the whole time despite having to go through some really gruesome treatment.

"John and Cat think we're mad running the equivalent of two and a half marathons, but they're really pleased we're doing it."

ALCL is responsible for just one per cent of childhood cancers and ALK negative is a tiny percentage of that. In the UK, doctors have not seen the disease before in a child as young as Ru.

Ru's parents said: "We have relied upon national experts to discuss his case, draw on research from similar cancers, look at trials at home and abroad and decide on the best route forward.

"He started an intensive treatment protocol of chemotherapy drugs and steroids. Our road ahead is scary and uncertain but our gorgeous boy is leading the way through it with his smile as big as ever.

"He has been so brave, taking everything that is thrown at him and not once complaining."

The Super Ru charity has partnered with Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group to enable fundraising efforts to be channelled into the most relevant and suitable areas of research for Ru's cancer.