A DAD from Dorch-ester will be running the Berlin Marathon in aid of a charity that helped his family when a relative was diagnosed with a liver disease.

Paul Wade, 47, of Rothesay Road, will be completing the 26-mile run for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) later this month.

The dad-of-five, who works in IT, said he decided to run for the cause because a family member was diag-nosed with autoimmune liver disease five years ago.

He said the national charity, which supports families of children with liver disease and promotes and funds research into the causes of the disease, is one that is ‘close to his heart’.

Paul said: “The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a support organisation that really helped us.

“I couldn’t even pronounce some of the names of the diseases and the side effects but they helped with that.

“We were also issued with accommodation while in London which we found through the charity.

“The information and the help they provide makes such a difference.”

He said the charity helps to fund the work that Kings College Hospital does for children with liver diseases.

Mr Wade said: “What really inspired me to run for the cause was when we went up to King’s College and babies were being flown in to the hospital from America and Israel because it is a centre of excellence.

“It was then that we realised that we were obviously in very good hands. They were really brilliant. It is a British institution.”

The keen runner, who has already completed Claren-don Marathon from Salisbury to Winchester, will be completing the challenge on September 26 with friends Ken Thomson and Des Link.

He added: “My fundraising has gone well too and I have already raised £981 but I am hoping to raise over £1,000.”

To sponsor Mr Wade visit justgiving.com/wade4cldf Alternatively, to sponsor Mr Thomson visit justgiving.com/linken