AN Amblecote fundraiser will soon be lacing up his running shoes as he takes on the Great Birmingham 10k.

Steve Howell, 32, will take part in the annual charity race to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital – where his son spent his first Christmas and birthday.

Turning two in April, Steve’s son Alfie suffers from a condition called skeletal dysplasia, a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism.

In May 2014 Alfie was also diagnosed with epilepsy, which resulted in him having to undergo two operations and a nine-month hospital stay.

He was admitted to hospital following repeated incidents where he stopped breathing, the worst of which took place at the airport as the family was prepared to fly out on holiday.

Steve said he decided to run on May 3 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital due to the support staff provided Alfie as well as himself and wife Zoe during their son’s time there.

He said: “The staff were absolutely brilliant. I think I can say they genuinely loved Alfie and I know it sounds a little cheesy but I really just want to give something back.

“They looked after Alfie so well and allowed us to juggle our other responsibilities, which was important considering he has an older sister, Maisie-Grace.

“We always knew he was in good hands and didn’t have to worry about other people looking after him.”

Steve admits that even though he has not run 10k for almost ten years he hopes to complete the race in a decent time as he’s “really competitive”.

To support Steve in his fundraising quest for Birmingham Children’s Hospital visit www.justgiving.com/Steve-Howell4