FATHER of two Alastair Demick is seeking support and a cheer to help him complete a daunting running challenge in memory of his son.

Alastair, 42, from Knutsford, is looking to run 60,000 metres, tomorrow, Saturday, to raise awareness of and funds for a charity which helps babies who are born to soon.

There are 60,000 babies born too soon in the UK, and the charity 4Louis provides memory boxes and Moses baskets for families whose babies have died.

On December 1 Alastair’s third son Andrew was born too soon, and Alastair is running for a charity which supported him and his wife Julie in their ‘darkest hour’.

Alastair was hoping to raise £600 for the charity, but has already raised almost £6,400.

He said: “The amount which has been raised in just over a week is absolutely mind-blowing.

“It is going to make such a difference to the charity, and we are incredibly touched by the support.

“Our beautiful baby boy Andrew was born too soon, and we are not alone. 60,000 babies are born too soon in the UK every year, leaving families drowning in grief, confused, lost, angry and upset.

“Christmas can be such a tough reminder of what could have, and should have, been.

“When Andrew was born we were fortunate to have had the most incredible care and emotional support from the midwives at Macclesfield Hospital and were given a memory box by the 4Louis charity.

“This box was a godsend for us and helped provide us with some very special memories of our third son.”

Alastair said he was running to raise awareness of the trauma 60,000 mums, dads, siblings and all family members have been through this year, to help raise money for 4Louis, which provided ‘much-needed light in our darkest hour’ and ‘to honour the memory of our beautiful son Andrew’.

He added: “Each metre I run will be in memory of every baby born too soon in the UK this year and every step a virtual hug to every mum, dad, brother, sister, grandparent, uncle and auntie affected by these losses.”

To make 60km in one day he plans to run 2.5km every hour for the full 24 hours between 9am on Saturday and 9am the following morning.

He added: “This is a massive challenge for me, but it is for such an important and worthwhile charity I want to help raise as much as I can for them.

Knutsford Guardian:

“Friends have offered to join me - socially distanced, one person per hour - as well as virtually, in Northern Ireland, the north east, New Zealand and Korea, which will be a fantastic help.

“It would be great if people could make a donation and give me a beep or a wave if they see me trudging around Knutsford in my 4Louis top.”

Anyone who would like to donate click here