TWO sisters are set to tackle an extreme obstacle course in honour of their mum who died two months ago.

Abigail McLaughlin, 18, will take on the challenging Tough Mudder race which promises a ‘sadistic collection of new and classic obstacles’ while her 11-year-old sister Jessica will take on the Mini Mudder to raise money for the East Lancashire Hospice.

The hospice cared for their mum Geraldine McLaughlin before she died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 47 in February.

The pair have smashed their initial target of £500 but are hoping to raise more before the event which takes place in Skipton on July 29 and 30.

As well as having to wade through water, mud and scale walls during the 12-mile course Abigail will be forced to sprint through a field of dangling wires delivering electric shocks.

Belthorn Academy pupil Jessica will tackle a series of obstacles including the tunnel of terror during the one-mile mini course.

Abigail, who works for Unison at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust where her mum also worked, has completed races for Cancer Research before.

She said: “It is quite a big challenge. I don’t know what we have let ourselves in for. It really tests your grit.

“I can’t wait to do it. It is for a good cause and with everything that went on with my mum I want to raise money and awareness for the hospice.

“My mum was all for fundraising. We would do runs together.

"This is one way to carry on her legacy. I feel like if she was able to do it herself she would.”

Geraldine, who worked as a nurse then a Unison rep, was diagnosed in October.

She underwent surgery but died before she could start a course of chemotherapy.

Abigail said her views on hospices changed after seeing her mum treated.

“I thought hospices were places where people went to die but my mum went for pain management. It is completely different.

"It is such a happy place and the staff members became more like our friends,” she said.

“The family can’t thank the staff there enough. The ward staff on C14 were brilliant.”

Her dad Mark, who lives in the Regents Park area of Blackburn, said: “I am so proud of them. They have taken this on and it has given them a positive focus after something so bad.

“Geraldine was a typical carer. She always ran for cancer charities.

“The nurses at the hospice were outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble. They are still helping us now with counselling and therapies."

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/abigail-mclaughlin.