A COUNCIL worker is set to run 200 miles in memory of his dad, five years after his death.

Christopher Ball, from Orford, has marked his dad Derek’s birthday with a mammoth running challenge each year since he died at the age of 72 in 2014.

But, despite having already covered hundreds of miles and raised more than £6,000 for charity, the 51-year-old is not planning on stopping just yet.

The Warrington Borough Council wellbeing worker said: “I was going to call it a day, but I think I’ll give it another 30 years and then call it a day.

“I’m supposed to be slowing down, but I thought I’d try three challenges this year.

“God knows what I’m going to do next year.

“I keep asking my kids which one of them is taking on the mantle but they just walk out of the room, so I’m training my 20-month-old granddaughter Scarlet up instead.”

Christopher’s first challenge saw him run 73 one-mile loops of Orford Park on what would have been his dad’s 73rd birthday.

The following year, he ran 74 miles from Llandudno - Derek’s favourite place - to Warrington.

His next run saw him jog around Orford Park for 24 hours straight, while last year came another 24-hour challenge in the Cotswolds.

Warrington Guardian:

This year, Christopher will complete the Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon in May and Endure24 in Leeds in July before a run from Towyn in North Wales to Warrington on the birthday itself - Wednesday, August 14.

In all, he is expected to cover nearly 200 miles.

Towyn holds a special place in the family’s heart, with Christopher’s parents having had a caravan there for three decades.

The run will again be held in aid of the MS Society, with Derek having suffered from multiple sclerosis for 30 years.

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Christopher added: “My mum and dad had a caravan in Towyn for 30 years, and every birthday he would be there.

“It’s a nice way to keep that memory going.

“If I can raise some money for the MS Society then that’s absolutely perfect, because every single pound helps.

“But the most important thing is raising awareness of MS.”

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