A STUDENT is planning a marathon sponsored mountain climb to honour his gran who died in hospital during lockdown.

Niall Carr, 20, was unable to visit 'Nana' Iris Dodd after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Iris, who was in her 70s, became so ill that surgeons decided to carry out an emergency operation, but she never came from the surgery.

Niall, from Monkton Heathfield, and his uncle, Nick Larwood, are planning to scale the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK in Iris's memory.

Niall, who works part time in a school in Highbridge, said: "Nana was diagnosed a week before Christmas, but we were unable to get up to see her in spring due to lockdown.

"She went in for an operation in Stoke on Trent on Good Friday, but unfortunately didn't come round.

"Nana meant a lot to me. She was the centre of the family, the most family-orientated person you could meet.

"As long as we were happy, she was happy."

Niall and Nick are hoping to do the Three Peaks Challenge - climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - in 24 hours on August 28, the Bank Holiday weekend.

"As soon as Nana passed, my idea was to do something for her," said Niall, who is studying for a sports degree at the University Centre Somerset, at Bridgwater and Taunton College in the county town.

"We started training a couple of months ago and we're hoping we'll be well prepared.

"We'll be thinking of Nan the whole time when we do the Three Peaks."

The couple, who have so far raised almost £1,800, are hoping to hold a memorial event at a club Iris and her husband Ray regularly attended.

"With everything that's going on, there were very few people at hjer funeral," said Niall.

"She was so popular that normally they would have filled the crematorium two or three times.

To sponsor Nick and Niall's campaign for Pancreatic Cancer UK on Go Fund Me.