Warwick dad has a thank-you for every mile in London Marathon

James and Kath McCann and their son Mitchell, who is now three, moved to Warwick from London two years ago and have nothing but praise for all the support they have received since arriving in the area.

James, who works as an accountant in Birmingham, said: “Mitchell is a happy excitable boy who just doesn’t get stuck in like other kids - and the local community of mums and children have proved very accepting of Mitchell as he is.

“We have received excellent support here so far. Our GP was receptive to our concerns and Monkey Puzzle Nursery in Warwick have been superb.”

He praised the nursery’s deputy manager Becky Poole and her team for being pro-active in referring Mitchell to all the necessary services and even seeking extra resources and training to be able to give the little boy all the support he needed, adding: “He simply loves it there and is thriving.”

James, who ran a half marathon last year, also praised the local integrated disability and child development services for their assessments of Mitchell.

The sponsorship money he is raising through running the London Marathon in April will be donated to the National Autistic Society. He will dedicate each mile to 26 different organisations - including Monkey Puzzle Nursery and the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust - one for each mile he runs.

And he will find motivation to continue by attaching 26 velcro strips onto the arms of his T-shirt, each one displaying the name of each organisation he is supporting, and after every mile he runs he will move a strip onto his chest.

James can be sponsored online at nas-london-marathon-2016.everydayhero.com/uk/james-1

To find out more about the National Autistic Society, visit www.autism.org.uk