West Somerset runner to take on seven half marathons in seven days

Michael Hutchinson, 24, was inspired to run for his sister Rachel who has Down's Syndrome but also for his mum Ann Hutchinson, a trustee of the charity and teacher at Danesfield School who suddenly passed away in August last year.

Mrs Hutchinson was a keen runner and Michael is planning to finish his challenge by completing the Nottingham Half Marathon, which was the first run his mum competed in back in 1982.

"The Down's Syndrome Association have always been very supportive to my family ever since my sister was initially diagnosed and offered great support to us last year after my mum passed away," Michael said.

"I just felt it was right to try and pay them back for some of their support and help them to be able to continue to support other families as well."

Michael, a researcher and PHD student at Loughborough University, has always been a keen sportsman but said that this challenge is out of his comfort zone.

"I wanted to run the Nottingham Half Marathon to link the challenge with my mum but me being me I had to go and add a bit more to it!" he said.

"I started training in February, and the most difficult part has been getting used to running everyday. I didn't manage to run at all during May because my left Achilles had swollen badly due to the volume of training."

Mike has already raised £1,631 and hopes he can raise even more during the week itself.

"I didn’t have a target in mind, only because I wasn't sure what a realistic target was. If it can be pushed up toward £2,000 would be amazing, but I know that any amount of money I can hand over to the charity would be used well and that’s the most important thing."

He is running five of the half-marathons in the Loughborough area and one in Newport before finishing in Nottingham.

You can donate to Michael's cause by going to www.virginmoneygiving.com/michaelhutchinson2 and can follow his progress on twitter @MJHutchinson90.