A DAD from Birchwood who is running 5km a day for a year for Cancer Research UK is set to complete his epic challenge at the weekend.

Chris Lee has run 5km every day since April - almost a marathon a week.

The 38-year-old has sprinted through extreme weather, injury and even the premature birth of his son to raise nearly £5,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The motivation for Chris’s year-long challenge came after losing his mum Karen, aged 51, to tracheal cancer in 2011.

The dad-of-four said: “My mum was a huge part of my life and it was absolutely devastating to lose her so suddenly.

“She’d just nipped out to the shop one day when she had a fall. She was taken to hospital for a check-up when doctors discovered a tumour on her wind pipe which could not be operated on. We lost her just six weeks later.”

Chris, who works as a furniture shop manager, was determined to channel his grief into something positive and decided to help others affected by cancer by embarking on the 5k a day challenge.

Despite having limited running experience, Chris has made his way through storms, high winds and five pairs of trainers in the past year – without taking a single day off.

Even when baby Arthur arrived prematurely in December, he ran laps of the hospital car park to hit his target.

The dad-of-four said: “The training has been really tough but it’s so motivating to know that the money I raise is helping to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

Over the last year, Chris has also invited others to join him on milestone runs in parks across the north west.

He said: “Some days I’ve had nearly 100 people joining me. The support of has been incredible and it definitely gives me the motivation to keep putting my trainers on. I know my mum would be proud of me for what I have achieved.”

Chris has been documenting his challenge with regular updates on Twitter and Instagram @Chris82Lee. He originally planned to mark the final run by bringing supporters to run together on Saturday.

Instead, he is now inviting people to join him virtually on Facebook where he will be live streaming his final run at 11am at www.facebook.com/events/s/5k-everyday-for-a-year-virtual/602620643851736/

Anyone who joins the virtual run and donates £10 will also receive a medal and thank you pack from Cancer Research UK.

Although this will be Chris’ final run, on Saturday he will be handing a ‘virtual baton’ over to Jennifer Seymour – a Cancer Research UK supporter originally from Lowton – who will start her own 5k a day challenge on the day he finishes.

Chris said: “Jennifer and I met at a Cancer Research UK event in Warrington last year and she too has lost loved ones to cancer. I’m absolutely honoured that she has agreed to take on the challenge for another year and keep this going.

“We both know first-hand just how devastating the disease can be and as the fight against cancer continues, I’m also committed to making sure this challenge continues.”

Anna Taylor, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the north west said: “We are incredibly grateful to Chris for the determination that he has shown throughout the past year.

“As a charity we receive no government funding and we rely on the support of people like Chris to raise vital funds to support our lifesaving work.”