A TEACHER is attempting to run 2,017 miles in 2017 to raise cash for a schoolboy left fighting for his life after an accident outside his home near Winchester.

Jonathan Flynn, deputy headteacher at Swanmore Primary School, is fundraising for Felix Barrow, who attended the school and was knocked down by a car in October 2015.

Felix, who was a keen athlete, was flown to Southampton General Hospital by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and placed into a medically induced coma.

Among his many injuries, Felix suffered a traumatic brain injury.

In the care of the staff at Southampton General Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Felix made remarkable progress in his determination to walk again.

Fit for Felix was set up by his parents to help pay for the day to day care that Felix requires now he is out of hospital which includes physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech therapy, counselling, and modifications to the family home.

The charity also raises money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIWAA) and the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital, both of which helped Felix.

Jonathan, who lives in Wickham, had already raised £2,800 for Felix and is aiming to raise a further £2,017.

Jonathan's efforts equate to running five and half miles daily, but he has run six miles a day since January 1 to get ahead of himself.

He said: "I have found the challenge hugely rewarding, albeit quite tiring. I regularly go out first thing in the morning, usually by 6am. On the odd occasions when I have been too tired to go in the morning, it has played on my mind for the entire day.

"I have been on two residential trips with the children at my school and I've had to go out even earlier to fit the run in at 4:30am.

"My normal route is along the disused railway line in Wickham. I've lost two stone since the beginning of the challenge and my fitness has improved rapidly. I've not felt ill or run down and my immune system has certainly improved.

"My muscles get regularly rubbed by my mum, Annie Richards, as she is a masseuse and this prevents any lingering aches or pains turning into anything serious.

"My wife, Hannah, and children Jon-Joe, Ewan and Francis-alongside my step daughters Alice and Eve give me plenty of support.

"I'm genuinely so grateful for the support I've been given and I look forward to the next half of my challenge with new supporters in tow.

"The Barrow family are hugely inspirational and positive. They inspire me daily and I hope that I, in turn can inspire others."