RUNNING in a marathon is tough enough for anyone - but two York men are going much, much further to raise funds for a little boy with an ultra-rare genetic disorder.

Matt Boggan and Mark Scoreby are planning to take part in the Isle of Wight challenge, a 106-km run along the island’s coastal path, in early May.

Organisers say most of the 1,500 challengers will walk the route, which heads out from Cowes and past the Needles and along dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.

But Matt, 34, from Strensall, and Mark, 36, from Haxby, are hoping to run the entire route and complete it in under 16 hours. Matt said: “I’ve run in marathons before but never anything like this.”

The pair are seeking to raise money for the Blake’s Genes appeal, which was launched last year after baby Blake Knaggs, of Huntington, became one of only 57 children worldwide to be diagnosed as suffering from Mucolipidosis II ML2 (MPS).

The condition, inherited from his parents Louise and Paul, who are both carriers, is incurable and he has a very poor chance of reaching his fifth birthday.

Much of the funds raised will go towards the Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases to fund research into the condition, which the family hopes might prolong Blake’s life but also help other children born with the condition.

Some funds will also go to Martin House Children’s Hospice, where Blake has stayed, and some will be used to create a sensory room full of stimulating colour and light at his home.

Matt and Mark are currently almost half way to their £1,000 target, with sponsors able to support them by going to www.justgiving.com/Matt-Boggan2/2

Matt said they were also holding a talent contest on Saturday evening, which they have dubbed Strictly Factor In Their Eyes, at Haxby Sports Club. The event has already sold out.

Blake’s aunt Joanne Addinall, of Haxby, said about £14,000 had been raised for the fund so far through activities such as a auction evening and raffle at the club last autumn and a “Wear blue for Blake’s genes day” last month, in which children and adults across York wore blue clothes.