A DAD has thanked the charity that has supported his four-year-old daughter in her battle with cerebral palsy by running a half marathon alongside his friends.

Neil Sherlock, from Appleton, completed the Great North Run alongside work friends Graham Eardley and Tom Handford on Sunday, September 9 - raising more than £1,500 for Brainwave.

His daughter Elsa has been supported by the Brainwave North West Centre in Birchwood for the past six months, having been diagnosed with the condition last year.

He said: “Elsa can walk by herself, but she struggles with long distances and getting up stairs.

“Brainwave have helped to improve all of that with physiotherapy, exercises and stretches.

“She’s only four, so we want to make sure she is in the best condition she can be as she grows up.

“It’s definitely seems like it’s having a benefit, and she’s getting stronger every day.”

Elsa, who has an older brother in six-year-old Sammy, was only able to walk unaided for the first time at the age of three but has improved her mobility with Brainwave’s help.

Neil added: “A half marathon was something that I’d always fancied trying at some point, and it was a good opportunity to raise some money for Brainwave at the same time.

“I’ve done a few 10kms before but not for a few years, so I’ve had to do a bit of training over the last few months.

“It was pretty hard going towards the end - I was really struggling when there was about 5km to go, but I just ploughed on and made sure I carried on running.

“I just want to thank people for their donations.”

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