An army mechanic is running a marathon in memory of his 15-month-old son.
Marcus Rhodes, who is taking part in the Abingdon Marathon, is raising funds for Oxford Hospitals Charity in honour of his son Lennox, who died in September from SMARD-1.
SMARD-1 is a rare genetic condition that causes severe muscle weakness.
Mr Rhodes said: "I’m running for Lennox, I’m running for the other families we met on the unit and those who will come after us, and I’m running to say thank you to the amazing hospital staff.
"Lennox needed 24-hour ventilation, so the Paediatric Critical Care Unit became like home for me, my wife Lauren and our daughter Mirabelle.
"And the team became like family – they have been there for us through some of the most difficult days of our lives.
"Their skill, compassion and unwavering support gave Lennox the very best care and helped our family navigate an unimaginable journey."
Lennox was born at the John Radcliffe Hospital and underwent surgery at six months old for a weakened diaphragm.
The family later moved from Abingdon to Cyprus due to Mr Rhodes’ work with the RAF.
In the spring, Lennox became seriously ill with bronchiolitis and was admitted to intensive care in Cyprus.
After a week, he was flown back to the UK and transferred directly to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Mr Rhodes said: "We felt very relieved to be at the JR, but it was crushing to hear that Lennox had SMARD-1.
"It’s an extremely rare genetic condition that causes severe muscle weakness so he couldn’t breathe independently.
"We learned that it was a life-limiting condition with no cure, so knew our time with Lennox would be very short.
"Our world has changed forever, but despite everything, the care and compassion shown by the PCC team has been nothing short of incredible.
"They didn't just care for Lennox, they’ve supported us as a family through the hardest time of our lives.
"Their dedication, kindness, and strength are something we will never forget.
"Running a marathon is nothing compared to what Lennox faced every single day, but it’s something I can do to try and make a difference.
"We know Oxford Hospitals Charity funds a lot of the equipment and support for families on the unit, so this fundraiser is our way of giving something back.
"We will never stop loving Lennox and making him proud."
Sarah Vaccari from Oxford Hospitals Charity praised the Rhodes family's strength.
She said: "Marcus and Lauren have showed tremendous courage and we are humbled by their very kind support during such an intensely difficult time.
"Lennox was a beautiful little boy, with a great big smile, a cheeky character and a love of music, dinosaurs and play."
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/page/lennoxssmard1
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