A KIND-HEARTED dad is preparing to put his struggles aside and raise money for an autistic charity by running his own version of a marathon.

Peter Ramsey, also known as Pip, will be running 26 miles in the hydrotherapy pool at Aqua Springs in Colchester in support of the National Autistic Society.

Pip, 44, of Colchester was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2003, which meant he had to have an ostomy bag to deal with waste from his body.

Despite his condition, Pip is always finding ways to support different causes and help anyone who might be in the same position as him.

The water challenge holds a special place in his heart as his son Mitchell Pearce Ramsey, ten, was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old.

Mitchell is also his dad’s biggest motivation.

Pip said: “He is my boy. His head is like a sponge – he is not even 11 and the things he knows about Formula 1 astounds me.

“He is like a little historian “He youtubes a lot and stores it all. It just amazes me.”

To help everyone touched by the condition, Pip will run his marathon on April 2, which is Autism Awareness Day.

Pip added: “The reasons why I do the running in the water is because I have arthritis and if I try to run that sort of distance in the road, my joints would swell up.

“But when I am in the hydrotherapy pool, I just run and run and run.

“That hurts as well, but I will go through the pain because it is what I do.”

Back in September, Pip stepped up to do 160,000 steps throughout the month in support of Colostomy UK - a charity which empowers the 160,000 people in the UK who live with a stoma.

Pip added: “Mentally it’s got me focussed.

“I have got my illnesses and mental health issues, but I when I am focussed my mind doesn’t worry so much.”

You can support Pip here.