FORMER Premier League footballer Francis Benali will start his epic seven-day IronMan-distance triathlon challenge in Stretford and dedicate that leg of his formidable journey to the late Tommy Stott.

The 50-year-old former Southampton player is preparing to take on his “IronFran” challenge – swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles on a bike and then running a 26.2mile marathon every day for a week – in a bid to smash his £1m fundraising goal for Cancer Research UK.

Helping him to push through the pain barrier as he kicks-off the challenge at the David Lloyd gym at Barton Embankment on Monday April 29 will be the memory of local legend, Tommy Stott.

Franny will be swimming at David Lloyd wearing a cap emblazoned with Tommy’s name, before making his way to Nottingham by bike and on foot.

Tommy Stott, from Timperley, was diagnosed with stage three oesophageal cancer in 2013. The 66-year-old had worked as a chef in a long career which saw him catering at Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton. He used to cook for David Beckham and the Class of 92’ at Manchester United.

The father-of-three underwent chemotherapy and surgery. He initially made a good recovery and raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by completing three Great Manchester 10ks, including one in his wheelchair.

In 2016, his cancer sadly returned and he died in September 2017. He is remembered by wife Yvonne, daughter Dawn, sons Jonathan and William. And grand-children Amy, Eva and Phoebe.

Son Jonathan, aged 40, said: “Dad would have been incredibly proud to know his name will be on Franny’s swimming cap. What an honour for the family. We all still miss my dad enormously. He was such a strong and inspirational character.”

When Franny leaves Trafford by bike he will be accompanied for the first leg of the journey by Stretford scientist Duncan Smith.

Father-of-three Dr Duncan Smith, aged 46, has worked in cancer research for more than 15 years and is now head of the biological mass spectrometry unit at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, part of The University of Manchester. Mass Spectrometry involves analysing proteins, the molecules that carry out the most important jobs in our cells. Analysing the size, structure and shape of proteins helps researchers to understand how cells work when they are healthy, what goes wrong in cancer cells and how those changes can be targeted by specific treatments.

Duncan said: “I have cycled with Franny previously when he was last in the North West, so it will be great to see him again and be a part of such a huge fundraising adventure.”

IronFran is the third and final challenge for Franny as he hopes to smash his £1m fundraising goal for Cancer Research UK.

Franny is thought to be the oldest man in the UK to take on such a gruelling challenge which will see him once again journey across England with the aim of raising vital funds for immunotherapy research.

Franny said: “Having a focus every day is hugely important to me when I get into that pool in Stretford and I can think of nobody better than Tommy as my inspiration."

Jane Bullock, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Manchester said: “As fundraising challenges go, they don’t come much tougher than this and we are absolutely in awe of Franny’s determination and dedication to reach his £1m goal for Cancer Research UK. “