The friends and family of a mountain rescue volunteer and award-winning architect who lost his life to cancer are hosting a "rave run" in his memory.

Mark Slocombe, 45, from Ramsbottom, was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022 and died in March last year.

He was an avid runner and would often go up onto the moor, plugged into his music and he would call them his "rave runs".

During Mark’s six-month battle with cancer, he started planning a Christmas DJ set for friends and family.

His wife Nichola Slocombe found the playlist earlier this year and came up with the idea to organise a "rave run" using Mark’s playlist as the soundtrack and raise money for five charities she has chosen that helped Mark and his family during Mark’s battle, as well as charities close to his heart.

The "rave run" will take place tonight, Wednesday, June 12 at 7pm, starting at the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Holcombe.

Everyone is welcome to take part in either the 7.5K fell run or a 3K fell walk. There is also the option to sign-up virtually.

Both in-person routes start from the Shoulder of Mutton and head up on to the moors where Mark loved to explore.

Each route takes in some of his favourite spots including Millennium Bench, Interstellar sheep track, Harques Quarry and Peel Tower.

Mark’s playlist will be released to everyone taking part just before the event.

Nichola said: “Mark was an adventurous, creative and extraordinary person who was always coming up with fun ideas.

“He took a great amount of pleasure selecting the playlist, it seemed wrong for it not to be heard.

“I'm not going to give away any of the artists on the playlist, Mark had an eclectic taste in music, but there are some huge dance tunes on there which should, hopefully, keep people raving throughout the route and finish with a beaming smile as he would after his 'rave runs'.

“We are so grateful for everyone’s support and Mark would want nothing more than for this to be an uplifting event that raises crucial funds for these charities.”

The five charities that will be supported by the "rave run" include The Christie in Manchester, where Mark had treatment, Macmillan Cancer Supporter, who supported him and also Nichola in 2015 when she battled with cancer.

Little Troopers, the charity which supports children who have a parent in the British armed forces, and was set up by Mark’s sister, Louise,  Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue, where Mark spent many years volunteering and Manchester-based cancer support centre Maggie's will be backed as well.

The "rave run" is just one of many races that Nichola is completing as part of an epic "Marathons for Mark" fundraising challenge to complete 13 marathons around the world in just 12 months, all while raising money for Mark’s five chosen charities.

Each of the events that Nichola has signed up to has a special meaning and connection to Mark including the Vancouver Marathon where Mark and Nichola went on honeymoon and the Melbourne Marathon where Nichola plans to meet up with Mark’s university friends.

Anyone who wants to take part can register here.