A FATHER is set to take part in the Sunderland City Half Marathon to ‘give something back’ to the charity that has helped him and his family since his daughter’s cancer diagnosis just months ago.

Christopher Sayers, 39, a chemical engineer 0f Peterlee, is taking on the 13.1-mile race on Sunday May 13 in aid of CLIC Sargent.

The charity provided specialist support to his family since two-year-old daughter Daisy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow, in November 2017.

Mr Sayers, a mechanical team lead at Tata Steel’s 20in Pipe Mill in Hartlepool, said : “You never think this type of thing will happen to your own children.

“We have had our ups and downs but at the moment, we really take each day at a time. Daisy is very brave and we’re all so proud of how she is handling this.”

CLIC Sargent is a charity that helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. From diagnosis, CLIC Sargent’s specialist care teams step in to provide a package of support tailored to each young cancer patient and their family.

It has offered some comfort to the Sayers family during what has been a difficult few months.

To show his appreciation for the help they have received, Mr Sayers made the decision to sign up to the half marathon and fundraise to support the charity’s work locally and nationally.

The father, who ran the Sunderland City 10K in 2016, said: “I’m doing the Siglion Sunderland City Half Marathon to give something back to a fantastic charity which has been so helpful during these early days of treatment. I’m aiming to raise as much as possible for CLIC Sargent and hope people will get behind me and offer their support.”

The Run Sunderland Festival 2018 is being organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Sunderland City Council and Active Sunderland. It features the Siglion Sunderland City Half Marathon and 10K, starting at Keel Square.

Siglion, the development partnership which is carrying out major regeneration projects on the Vaux site and at other locations in the city, is once again sponsoring both races.

For further information or to sign up to the Siglion Sunderland City Half Marathon or 10K visit www.sunderlandcity10k.com, email info@sunderlandcity10k.com.

To support Christopher Sayers in his fundraising visit /www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chrissayers78.