Dad running 120 laps of Peterborough track in aid of son's school

Jason will run an ultra-marathon to raise money for Anakin's school

A 51-year-old man has been in training to run a 48km (30 miles) ultra-marathon around an athletics track.

Jason will complete about 120 laps of Peterborough Athletics Track to raise money for special sensory equipment at his son's school.

Six-year-old Anakin, who is non-verbal and has autism, joined Heltwate School in September.

Anakin's mother, Lisa, said the school had "positively impacted" her son and she wanted to give something back.

The school offers education for pupils aged four to 19 with moderate to severe learning difficulties, and it offers autism specific education.

Lisa said Anakin had "come along far" since starting at the school

Lisa, 44, said that since her son moved to the school he had "come along far" and was "beaming with excitement" to go back after the Easter break.

She added: "They opened an extension at the school, and we wanted to help develop the equipment to give something back.

"At the main building [the school] has standing play spinning equipment that helps with sensory regulation, but they need some more at the new site, so we want to help fund it."

Jason will run an ultra-marathon at Peterborough Athletics Track on 19 April 2024

Jason has raised more than £500 so far, but he said he hoped that amount would grow.

He said: "I do something every year to challenge myself and achieve a new personal goal and while trying to raise some money for a good cause.

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"I will run an ultra-marathon at Peterborough Athletics Track on 19 April 2024, which will roughly be about 120 laps."

He added that the money raised was for "more than just play equipment" and was "about helping the children to be able to regulate and learn".