A GRIEVING widower set himself the mammoth challenge of running 100 marathons when his wife was dying of breast cancer.

Now David Freeborn, aged 37, has completed a staggering 78 in five years, and says running has helped him cope with losing his wife.

Emma Freeborn was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2005 — just a month after she married David — and she died, aged 34, seven years later.

Brave Mrs Freeborn had been told of her husband’s marathon mission before her death on February 4, 2012, and said she believed in him and urged him to do it.

Mr Freeborn, who was brought up in Westhoughton, completed his 78th race in Chester on October 5, five years after running his first marathon in London.

As if the challenge was not tough enough, former Bolton School pupil Mr Freeborn — who now lives in Hove — plans to complete his 100th marathon barefoot.

He is launching a renewed fundraising push for the Breast Cancer Campaign as he edges closer to the completion of a remarkable century.

Mr Freeborn, aged 37, said: “Running was a bit of escapism. I wanted to cause myself pain at the time. It was good that I was hurting.

“It makes you realise, these people who are suffering are in so much pain. I wanted to run for all those people who could not because of their health.”

Mrs Freeborn raised money for the Breast Cancer Campaign before her death, and completed a charity walk along Great Wall of China, as well as speaking on behalf of the campaign at Downing Street and the House of Lords.

Her work saw her win Cosmopolitan’s Woman of the Year award and earn an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Freeborn said: “She was being so brave and doing all this work that I thought ‘what can I do to raise awareness for this charity. I’m going to run 100 marathons’.

Mr Freeborn will run his 79th race in Fowlmead in Kent tomorrow. To donate to Mr Freeborn visit justgiving.com/fundraising/100marathondave