FIVE members of a family are paying tribute to a father, brother and uncle by braving the Three Peaks 24-hour challenge.

Sports-loving Mick Brazier, who lived in Colchester, died of a short illness, aged 51, last September.

His sons Tom, 17, and Sam, 20, and brother Keith Brazier, 43, will be climbing the three highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland tomorrow.

They will be joined by his former work colleague Ben Matthew, 39, as well as his nephews Robbie, 20, and Graeme Lee, 25.

The Colchester boys’ aim is to raise at least £500 each for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to Mick’s heart.

Robbie said: “I imagine if he’s looking down he’d be laughing and saying we’re stupid, but I think he’d have been up for it as he loved sport.

“He was from Colchester but was an Ipswich Town supporter and coached the Tempest Football Club Under-6s to 18s. My uncle was a larger than life, bubbly character who always put others before himself.”

England’s Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, in Scotland, and Snowdon, in Wales , have a combined height of 3,408m.

Fitting them all in inside 24 hours means climbing throughout the night - with thunder on the weather forecast. They will sleep for a few hours between each mountain.

He said: “It’s an exciting time but I’m nervous as well because you just don’t know how it will work out until you’re there.

“Our plan is to encourage each other, have lots of sugary coffee when we’re travelling through the night and to remember the reason why we’re doing it.

Robbie’s mum Sally will be their main cheerleader back at home.

He said: “One day she just texted me to say how proud she was and I had a lump in my throat. It meant a lot to me.”

“She’s proud of us all for doing it in her brother’s memory.”

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