A father from St Albans has set himself "the weird and wacky" challenge of running a 110km jungle marathon to raise money for research behind a condition that threatens his friend and colleague’s sons' lives.

Mark Austwick, 45, will run the jungle marathon in Brazil alongside four other colleagues to raise money towards researching cures for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle condition with an average life expectancy of 25.

Mark, a police officer at Heathrow Airport, received the devastating news from his colleague Tony that his oldest son Alfie, who is five years old, had been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy around two years ago.

A few months later Tony's family was devastated to hear their youngest son, two-year-old Arthur, was also diagnosed with the condition.

Mark said: "I am devastated on behalf of Tony and his partner Jenny.

"I have two young daughters of my own it really struck a chord with me.

"Tony is not only a colleague of mine, but a friend and we want to do all we can to help and support him and his family in any way.

"This is my way of doing my little bit to help and I want to raise money for such a great cause.

"It is really important to raise money behind the research of curing this condition and making it bearable for people living with this condition. "

When Tony found out we were doing this, he was overwhelmed and absolutely thrilled."

The father-of-two will set out on his four-day mission on Wednesday, October 3, where he will have to carry his own food during the marathon and will spend nights sleeping in hammocks at campsites along the riverbanks.

Mark is well on his way to raising his £2,500 target - he has already raised £790.

He added: "I wanted to do something a bit different and decided to go for something a bit weird and wacky. "It is going to be the whole shebang.

"I am slightly apprehensive about the challenge because I have never done anything like this before.

"I am not sure what to expect from the jungle, the temperatures and humidity are going to be tough. However, it’s for such a good cause and I am hoping that is what will get me round."

To sponsor Mark, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=MarkAustwick&faId=248553&isTeam=false