The Manchester-based BMC has set up the fund in memory of Mr Ellison

Mountaineers have set up an award to provide funds in memory of the founder of Climbers Against Cancer.

John Ellison died recently, more than three years after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

As friends and family prepare to gather for his funeral on Thursday, the British Mountaineering Council announced it was setting up a one-off grant scheme to provide five awards of up to £1,000 for hillwalkers and climbers who have cancer.

The Manchester-based council said Mr Ellison made the most of his life following his terminal cancer diagnosis in 2012, uniting the global climbing community in a colourful t-shirt clad fight against cancer and raising more than £400,000 in the process.

The BMC’s Climbers With Cancer awards will be available to climbers or hillwalkers who have suffered or are suffering from cancer. The council said the idea is to provide a kick-start to help people do something they have always wanted to do.

“This could be a climbing or mountaineering objective or an equally worthy personal goal or project related to their cancer,” a spokesperson said.

Chief executive Dave Turnbull said: “John Ellison has been a massive inspiration to us all.

“He showcased what can be achieved with vision, dedication, determination and the strong bond of our climbing community. CAC is a remarkable legacy to leave.

“Despite his diagnosis, John managed to turn the situation around for the good. In the same spirit, we’ve created these awards to help climbers with cancer and to share the CAC message.”

Details of the awards are still being finalised but BMC members will be given priority and there will be focus on ‘younger’ cancer suffers – Mr Ellison was only 52 when he died.

The grant scheme will go live on 1 February and the application deadline is 1 March. Awards will be made by mid-March.

Details will be on the BMC website.