The son and daughter of The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce will take part in this Sunday’s Manchester Half-marathon in memory of Andy Rourke and to raise funds for the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity.

Livvy, 31 and Frankie, 26 will both be donning official Pancreatic Cancer Action charity vests when they set off at the starter-point at Old Trafford, alongside 24,000 other runners.

The pair, both based in Manchester, are raising funds for the charity which has partnered with a special fundraiser to create a mural dedicated to the late bass guitarist, who sadly died from pancreatic cancer in May 2023, aged only 59.

Livvy said: “When I saw how much my dad was doing to raise funds for the mural and charity, I thought, ‘how can I help too?’.

“Then I heard Frankie was entering the half-marathon and while I am not a long-distance runner by a long shot, I decided I would join him and we’d do it together for Andy.

She added: “My dad loved Andy and we grew up knowing just how much love and laughter there was between them and how much he meant to dad, so this is our way of doing something positive in his memory.”

Brother Frankie, whose employers at Gorilla Glue are matching his fundraising tally up to £500,, added: “We also really want to support such a good cause. Pancreatic cancer receives only 3.1% of all cancer research funding.

“Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be a game-changer and we really want to drive home the message to watch out for early signs of any problems.

Frankie added: “I am really happy to be running this in memory of Andy and alongside Livvy. The Crowdfunder for the mural has achieved its key target for costs but we want people to keep donating as every penny now goes to the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity.”

Last month Mike Joyce launched the Crowdfunder to fund a huge black and white mural to be located on the side of the Wheatsheaf Pub on Oak Street in the Northern Quarter..

The mural will be brought to life by world-renowned street artist Akse with a striking image credited to The Smiths’ 1985-1986 UK/USA tour photographer, Nalinee Darmrong, who has kindly given her blessing to the project.

Joe Kirwin, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: “We are delighted that Livvy and Frankie are running in aid of our charity and to also be partnering with the mural Crowdfunder.

“As a charity, we are firmly focused on saving lives through early diagnosis and the more people who our message reaches through this appeal, the better. We will have Andy’s legacy to thank for this and every donation no matter how much will make a difference.”