FRIENDS of two young men who died within months of each other have set up a charity in their memory.

Former Cotswold School pupils Adam Beston and Rupert Greenhill were barely into their thirties when their lives were cut short by terminal illness.

Rupert, a former city trader was 30 when he died in July last year from a rare form of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, while talented Stow rugby player, Adam, died in March after a long battle with a brain tumour.

But inspired by the large number of lives the two men touched, friends were determined to keep their memory alive by raising money to help fund research into combating the diseases. After creating the charity Time of Your Life, members are set to hold their first fund-raiser at the Cotswold School, Bourton, on October 20.

Gina Disney, aged 31, who created the group, was a close friend and former classmate of both of Rupert and Adam.

She said: “They were both so kind, generous, and talented, touching the lives of hundreds of people. We want to take that feeling of inclusivity and friendship and try to create something positive out of something so unbelievably awful.”

Organisers expect more than 300 people to attend the free event which starts at 2pm and will include stalls, a raffle and an auction.

Adam Henson has become the charity’s first patron and will open event. “I played rugby with Adam, and Rupert’s father was our vet so I am honoured to become a patron of such a worthwhile cause,” he said.

The main event starts at 7pm with a cocktail reception followed by live music from special guests Pippa Langhorne, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist, and David Julien, finalist in The Voice.

Tickets are £10 and are available in advance. Time of Your Life T-shirts can be bought in advance from Wreal Embroidery, Bourton, to be worn on the night.

All proceeds will be split between the Brain Tumour Charity and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

For more details, visit timeofyourlife.btck. co.uk.