A PAIR of daredevil fundraisers are set to kayak 48 kilometres across the freezing Celtic Sea after being inspired by a young mum's battle against a brain tumour.

Glenn Eldridge, 47, and Jack Coop, 30, will attempt to paddle from St Ives to Mother Ivy’s Bay near Padstow, in honour of Colchester mother-of-two Gemma Edgar.

The duo, who hail from St Ives themselves, first heard Gemma's story when Mr Eldridge coached Andy and Lee Relf, Mrs Edgar's father and brother, in preparation for them to take part in and complete the Celtic Crossing, a race from the Scilly Isles to Sennen Cove in Cornwall, in 2016

They'll be taking to the waves on the very same surf ski, similar to a kayak, which Andy and Lee used to complete their challenge, and are hoping to raise £2,000 for the Braintree Tumour Research charity in Gemma's honour.

Andy Relf said: "We are incredibly touched by Glenn and Jack’s gesture.

"Gemma’s condition deteriorated rapidly in September and it was heart-breaking to hear that the tumour had grown considerably and was deemed inoperable.

"She has been so strong and upbeat, but is now quite poorly. Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.

"Research is desperately needed to bring hope to families struck by this devastating disease in the future."

Gemma, 33, who is mother to Dylan, six, and Noah, four, was first diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in 2014.

At the moment she is at St Helena Hospice receiving treatment, but her family remain hopeful she will be accepted on to a clinical trial which could prolong her life.

Glenn said: “I met Andy in the summer of 2015, a year after Gemma was diagnosed aged 29 with an aggressive brain tumour for which there is no known cure.

"He persuaded me to help him and Lee with their training to take part in the Celtic Crossing the following year, even though it is normally only open to the world’s best surf ski paddlers.

“Since then we have met up each year with Andy and his wife Barbara when they have come down on holiday to Cornwall and kept in contact in between.

"When I heard Gemma wasn’t doing so well I immediately wanted to do something."

The pair's challenge takes place on Saturday, November 24.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/glenn-eldridge4.