A PRIMARY school teacher will be running a half marathon in Iceland in memory of her father who was a popular guitarist from Stourport.

Francesca Wiltshire, 33, will be running 13.2 miles to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice, in Worcester, who cared for her father Strafford Dance during the last few weeks of his life.

Mr Dance was a retired civil servant and was known locally for his guitar playing. He was due to visit Iceland on holiday with his daughter.

He died at the age of 64 on Tuesday, April 9.

Mrs Wiltshire, who lives in London, said: “At this point dad didn't know that he was sick and every time I saw him he had his Iceland travel guided out and was researching places to see and go.

“Dad became ill quickly in February and was admitted to hospital where he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

“His last few weeks were spent in St Richard’s Hospice. Dad was so grateful to them and was desperate to give something back.

"He was meant to be coming to Iceland to watch me run the half marathon and when he realised that he'd no longer be able to join us, he asked if I'd run to raise money for St Richard’s.”

Mrs Wiltshire will be running the half marathon on Saturday, August 24.

She added: “Amazingly, Dad did his last performance at the end of January this year at the Artrix Theatre in Bromsgrove, totally unaware that he had cancer.

“Despite our blissful ignorance of what was to come, the concert was very emotional and summed up his life achievement of guitar playing.

“His talent lives on in my brother Linden who is also an incredible guitarist of whom dad was very proud.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/Francesca-Wiltshire