LAST month marked the first anniversary of the death of former rugby league player Tony Barrow.

This Sunday a 66-strong team made up of his family and friends will run the St Helens 10k in his memory to help others with brain tumours.

The former Oldham and Swinton player, from Thatto Heath, died on March 16 last year after a battle with stage four glioblastoma multiforme.

His widow Ann-Marie, 35, has been completing various challenges over the past 10 months in memory of well known father-of-two Tony as a way of dealing with her grief.

Ann-Marie, alongside family, including Tony’s 18-year-old daughter Lucy and friends, will be running the course with the aim of raising funds to research treatments for people with brain tumours.

She told the Star: “This event, for me, will be especially poignant, considering Tony and I ran the St Helens 10K together several times.

“Even last year before he died he wanted to walk some of it – but sadly he was too poorly.

“I have done a lot this year as I wanted to keep focused, but I know that Tony will be with me on Sunday, like he always is, every step of the way.

“I had to do something to fill the massive void his death left in my life and I know that Brain Tumour Research are underfunded and do incredible work.

“I know he would be honoured to have such a big team running in his memory and it is a testament to his popularity and I hope people support us.”

n To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Ann-Marie-Barrow.