THE grandson of a Blackburn man who pledged to raise thousands of pounds to help fight motor neurone disease is about to go the extra mile to honour his late grandfather’s wishes.

Owen Hedges, 12, is preparing for a mini-triathlon in the hope of donating £500 towards the Alan Hedges Fightback campaign.

Mr Hedges, of Leyburn Road, died on October 11 last year at the age of 67, 18 months after he was diagnosed with his condition.

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He spent much of his final year raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association with wife Wendy.

The former maintenance worker set a goal of collecting £1 million to help find a cure for the disease, and so far his family have raised more than £7,000.

Mrs Hedges, 68, said her grandson was training to tackle an endurance event near his home in Ashford, Kent, next month.

She said: “He’s only 12 but he really wants to help with the fundraising. He’s a fit, young lad and he’s already raised more than £100.

“The course will take in a 30-mile cycle, a 10-mile run and 10 laps of the local baths. I’m glad it’s him doing it and not me.

“Everyone, including his parents Mark and Andrea and his brother, Joseph, is very proud of him and I’m sure he’ll do really well.”

Mrs Hedges, a retired nurse, said successful fundraisers had already been held since her husband’s death, including various sponsored walks by friends and a sale of Christmas cards featuring Mr Hedges’ own drawings.

Before his death, Mr Hedges said: “ I have a dream to raise as much money as I can before it claims me.”

To donate to the campaign, visit www.justgiving.com/AlanHedgesfightback