A FAMILY man who lost his father to multiple sclerosis is running 74 miles to mark his dad’s 74th birthday on August 14.

Christopher Ball from Alder Crescent, Orford, completed a similar challenge last year when he ran 73 laps of Orford Park.

This year he will start his run at Llandudno, his dad’s favourite place, and run along the coast to the finish line at Orford Jubilee Hub.

His father, Derek, died in December 2014 and Christopher said: “Running is the only way I can deal with his birthday and I want to make sure I can give something back to the nice people at Warrington MS Society.

“Dad's favourite place was Llandudno and everybody’s so welcoming there, it doesn’t matter if you are disabled or anything. So it’s a good way of saying thanks to the people of Llandudno too. I’m lucky his favourite place wasn’t London!

“Last year I was a bit optimistic and I promised my wife I’d be home by 5pm to take her to Tesco.

“I didn’t finish until 8pm and she said she had to carry all the shopping on her own. So this year I’ll make sure I take her to the shop first.”

The father of five will be joined by his son, 28-year-old Jason O’Hara, who will be cycling alongside his dad.

“My sons say, ‘dad, if you’re expecting the same from us you’re mad,’" he said.

“They think I’m crazy but they’re 100 per cent behind me. They say the way I felt about my dad is the way they feel about me, which is the best thing they could tell me.

“But none of them have said they would join me on the run yet.

“He always said ‘I could do that’ and I think that’s why my boys have all achieved so much. We were all inspired by him so if I can inspire someone else, it’s all worth it.”

Christopher will be joined for the last mile at Orford Jubilee Hub by his two grandsons and said anybody who wants to cheer him to the finish line is welcome.

LiveWire are setting up a gazebo to celebrate his achievement and Christopher is hoping to run 125 miles to mark his own 50th and Derek's 75th.

He said: “It’s a sad day but he would have been made up by this and I want to make it memorable.”

To donate visit warringtonms.org.uk/#page=page-15.