Tributes to Great North Run runner David Colley and York student Megan Roberts at Yorkshire Marathon

David Colley, 58, had been set to take part in the event in York, his first marathon, before his untimely death.

Now, his daughters Sarah and Emily will take part in the Yorkshire Marathon’s 10 mile race to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Along with Emily, David had already taken part in the Run For All Yorkshire Season Ticket this year – Leeds, York and Hull 10Ks.

Sarah said the family had been “overwhelmed” with support from the running community since her father’s death.

She said: “Our dad was a wonderful man who was taken from us far too soon.”

Emily added: “I know he’ll be running beside us, shouting encouragement all the way.”

A Just Giving page set up in Mr Colley’s memory has raised more than £8,700 to date.

Mr Colley’s daughters will not be the only ones running in memory of a loved one on Sunday.

The mother of Megan Roberts, who drowned after falling into the River Ouse in York on a night out in January 2014, will join her friends in relay of the course in memory of her daughter.

Miles for Megan will raise money for the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), of which Ms Roberts is an ambassador, and York Rescue Boat.

Student Miss Roberts was 20 when she disappeared on a night out with friend in York. Her body was found in the river almost six weeks later.

Since then, Mrs Roberts has worked to raise awareness of the dangers of open water.

She said: “We have got two teams running made up of family, friends and Wetherby High School students.

“One of Megan’s friends, Racheal Storey, is going to run the whole marathon after the first relay leg.”

- See Saturday’s Yorkshire Post for everything you need to know about the race, including road closures.