Scotland captain Scott Brown is urging Scots to give up alcohol for a month to raise money for a cancer research charity.

The Celtic star is sponsoring his brother Stewart to become a "dryathlete" for the whole of January in support of the Cancer Research UK Dryathlon campaign.

The charity is close to the brothers' hearts as their sister Fiona died aged just 21 in May 2008 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Those taking part in the Dryathlon challenge are either sponsored to give up alcohol for a month in the new year, or donate the money they would have spent on drink to the charity.

Scott, 28, said: ­"Giving up alcohol for a month is a great test of willpower and discipline and the Dryathletes will need the support of a team of friends and family to spur them on with encouragement and sponsorship.

"I'm urging everyone to limber up and sign up now for Cancer Research UK's Dryathlon. Everyone is affected by cancer in some way and sadly our family is no exception.

"That's why Cancer Research UK is very close to my family's heart. Funding the charity's scientists in their endeavours to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured is a worthwhile goal indeed."

This is the second time Stewart, from Cowdenbeath in Fife, has raised money for Cancer Research UK.

In August, the 25-year-old ScotRail worker climbed Ben Nevis in bare feet and raised £1000 in memory of his sister.

He said: "Fiona's death devastated our family. It was really hard. And the sad thing is, cancer affects so many of us. That's why I think it's so important to raise as much money as we can."