SPORTY teenager Grace Hadman loved netball and was a dedicated player for her school’s team.

But the St Edward’s school pupil’s life was tragically cut short in 2009 when aged just 17 she was killed in a car crash on the A34.

It was Grace’s love for the sport that has now inspired her brother Jasper to take on a gruelling 79-mile challenge to raise cash for a netball court in Africa in her memory – which will be called Grace’s Netball Court.

The 29-year-old of Lower Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold, will run Dorset’s Jurassic Coast Challenge in March – where competitors run three marathons in three days.

Mr Hadman, a former Dragon School pupil, said: “Grace absolutely loved netball and I thought it was a really nice idea to have a place that was in her memory.

“She loves netball and sports and so do I. So I think it is a really nice way to do something in memory of Grace.”

Grace had also been a pupil at the Dragon School and she swam for Oxfordshire.

He added: “I think she would love the idea – I think she would be really excited about it, she would be amazed that there will be a netball court in Malawi named after her.”

Cash raised will go to the charity Building Malawi, co-founded by Mr Hadman’s friend Tom Bowden, and the charity will build the netball court, which will be decorated with Grace’s art work.

Mr Hadman said: “Grace knew Tom and the charity – she had raised some money for them in the past – so there is a connection there as well.

“I have never done a marathon or anything before, I am not much of a runner but I wanted to do something that will be a real challenge.

“I quite like the idea of this because I really like the Jurassic Coast and this is something that is going to attract attention from people.”

He said the charity could not give a cost for the netball court yet as it has not been designed – but estimates it could be about £5,000. The charity has already set aside £2,500 to help the dream of Grace’s Netball Court become a reality and Mr Hadman has raised £1,300 so far.

The netball court will be used by disadvantaged Malawian girls for netball and drama productions.

The Jurassic Coast Challenge takes place from Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24.

To donate visit http://justgiving.com/Jasper-Hadman