A FATHER who decided to run the London Marathon in aid of a disability charity found a second reason for stepping out after his son was diagnosed with a bone-wasting disease.

Accounts manager Martin Pashen had already decided to complete the 26-mile race this year on behalf of the Calvert Trust, which organises activities for people with disabilities and their families.

But just four months later Mr Pashen had another reason for running – his eight-year-old son Josh was diagnosed with Perthes’ disease.

The disease mainly affects young boys and causes a deterioration in the ball of the hip joint, causing sufferers pain and mobility problems.

Mr Pashen, 41, said: “I had always wanted to run the London marathon and I was actually able this year to get through for the Calvert Trust.

“I’d already decided to do the race for the trust about four months before Josh was diagnosed, so it’s all quite a strange coincidence.”

Mr Pashen said Josh was very active before the diagnosis but has had to stop doing high impact sports such as football now for at least the next two to three years, until he can undergo an operation to treat the condition.

Until then, Josh will use crutches or a wheelchair for much of the time, although he will still be able to do low-impact sports like swimming.

Mr Pashen added: “The Calvert Trust helps people in a similar situation to Josh’s by raising funds to send disabled or wheelchair bound children on activity breaks, so I’m particularly glad to be helping them.”

Mr Pashen, who works at Ultra Contract Electronics on the Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth, is a coach for Dorchester Town youth FC.

In preparation for the marathon, Mr Pashen has been racking up the road miles around his home in Crossways, near Dorchester.

He said: “I completed a 20-mile run last weekend, and I’d been doing up to 17-mile runs before that.” Mr Pashen hopes to raise around £1,500.