A FIREFIGHTER will stretch his legs to the limit in a gruelling 62-mile run to support a youngster battling a rare disease.

Dean Woodburn, 42, is preparing to take on the daunting Stour Valley Path 100k Ultra Run later this year.

The 62-mile race route is the equivalent to about two and a half marathons back-to-back.

Dean has pledged to complete the challenge for Clacton three-year-old Stanley Newman.

The youngster, of Skelmersdale Road, has a rare muscle-wasting disease called congenital muscular dystrophy which is gradually weakening him.

Dean, of Halstead, works on red watch at Clacton fire station with Stanley’s dad Rob.

He said: “As a watch we decided to do something for Rob’s little boy.

“I’ve known Rob for more than 20 years and I’ve met Stanley several times. He is an amazing kid and we all wanted to help.

“I ended up booking to take part in this race.

“I’ve done a marathon before, which wasn’t too bad, so I wanted to do something bigger than that.

“But this may be a step too far!”

The cross-country route is a continuous 100km footpath, starting in Suffolk and finishing near Manningtree.

It takes place in August and has a time limit of 15 hours.

Dean has already started training and is doing one long run each week, gradually pushing his distance up.

He is currently hitting distances of 33km and aims to get up to 70km before the race.

“At the moment I’m not setting any targets, I just want to finish,” he added.

“It is a daunting distance and half the battle is mental, as well as staying injury free.

“But this is all to help Stanley and I think knowing that will help keep me going when it gets tough.”

Brave Stanley was finally diagnosed last year after months of tests and has been given a heartbreaking prognosis by experts.

Most people with the condition do not live past their teenage years.

But his family refuse to give up hope and have raised a huge amount of cash for Muscular Dystrophy UK, as well as a special wheelchair for Stanley.

Recently they have been raising cash for alterations to their home so Stanley can be a part of family life, and Dean’s ultra-marathon efforts will boost the cause.

Sponsor him at justgiving.com/Stanleys-Heroes/