TWO friends are getting ready to run a half marathon in memory of a County Durham man who died after crashing his motorbike.

Sophie Laidler, 29, and James Taylor, 30, are doing to Great North Run to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), which went to the aid of Miss Laidler’s brother Michael, after his motorbike collided with a wall in upper Weardale, County Durham, in August 2015.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the 22-year-old, a keen sportsman from West Rainton, near Durham city, died at the scene.

Miss Laidler, a PHD archaeology student at Durham University, said: “Michael has been a huge inspiration for this challenge.

“He lived life to the full. I’m really nervous about it but he would tell me to just get on with it.”

Speaking of the accident, she added: “My older brother David who was there at the time, told us how wonderful GNAAS were and how quickly they responded.

“They were in a rural location with no phone signal and David had to run to a nearby cottage to call for help. In a situation where time is of the essence, it is reassuring to know that in the worst moments of your life, no matter how remote of a location you are in, the GNAAS can get to you.

“Before then we knew very little about the good work they do, but we’ve learned so much about the services they provide to the region and how many lives they save.

“GNAAS crew are completely selfless and I think it is a tragedy they have to rely on donations to continue saving lives.”

Miss Laidler, her father Trevor Laidler and Mr Taylor with have visited the GNAAS base at Langwathby to meet paramedic Terry Sharpe and pilot Owen McTeggart, who helped Mr Laidler.

Mr Sharpe said: “It is always a poignant moment when we meet the family of a patient who has sadly died. We are hugely grateful to them for their continued fundraising efforts which help us to stay in the air.”