A KENDAL man who ran every day for a year in order to raise awareness of a rare muscle-wasting condition that affects the son of a close friend has raised more than £5,000.

Going into the Christmas holiday Simon Blunden, of Burneside Road, was just £50 short of his target for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

The local architect has been fell running every day since January 2017, averaging five miles, and asking supporters to donate to the charity via Red4Greg on the JustGiving website.

He was inspired by Greg Savage, the young son of a friend who in September, 2015, at the age of five, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The condition causes muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste over time, leading to increasing disability. Research funding is needed for this condition as there is yet no cure.

Simon said he was very grateful to everyone who had donated so far. The total raised has been able to fund more than 120 hours of essential research into a treatment.

Since his first run in 2017 and finishing the challenge on New Years Eve, he has covered more than 2,700 miles and climbed some 335,000 feet.

“I am delighted to have completed what must be my greatest personal challenge, he said. “I am relieved to have made it through the year without injury or illness, and I couldn’t have done it without the patience and support of my friends and family.”

The time Simon spent running is equivalent to 12 weeks of full-time work.

His longest run was in the summer when he, Matt Allen, Eirik Stagness and Greg’s dad Martin ran from Keswick to Kendal Castle, a distance of 34 miles and a total ascent of 9,000 ft.

“While I found some days much harder than others I can honestly say that never once did I regret going out for a run. I hope that others might hear about what I’ve done and get inspired to set their own challenges,” he said.

n If you would like to donate the website is still active. Go to https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/muscular-dystrophy/red4greg