HE’S the HAMPSHIRE teacher running thousands of miles to raise cash for a schoolboy left fighting for his life after an accident outside his home.

Jonathan Flynn, deputy headteacher at Swanmore Primary School, is attempting to run 2,017 miles in 2017 for 13-year-old Felix Barrow, who attended the school and was knocked down by a car in October 2015.

Now, Jonathan is close to finishing the gruelling challenge, which equates to running five and half miles every day.

He will celebrate his achievement with friends, family and supporters with one final run on New Year’s Eve.

Felix, who was a keen athlete, had to be flown to Southampton General Hospital and placed into a coma following a traumatic brain injury.

In the care of Southampton General Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, he made remarkable progress in his determination to walk again.

The Fit for Felix campaign, which Jonathan is supporting, was set up by his parents to help pay for the day to day care that Felix requires including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech therapy, counselling, and modifications to the family home.

The charity also raises money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Jonathan, of Buddens Road,Wickham, has already raised his initial target of £2,017 and has since hit £4,550.

He said: “I have found the challenge hugely rewarding, albeit quite tiring.

“On the completion of my eleventh month consecutively running daily, I tripped and fell, smacking the palms of my hands on the frozen ground.

“As I lay on the ground I considered how much pain I was in. I wondered briefly what on earth am I doing? "This is madness. Every day fitting a run around, changing plans with family to fit it in, running while on holiday. Was it worth it?

“I quickly snapped out of this and considered the pain I was in.

"What about the pain Felix was in when he was knocked down by a car? I got up and carried on like he does on a daily basis.”

To date, fundraising events across the county, including a fun run attended by 500 people last year, have raised tens of thousands of pounds for Fit for Felix.

The group supporting Jonathan will meet at Wickham Community Centre for 20 minutes running, walking and cycling, heading north up the old railway line- Jon’s favourite run.

Those coming along are asked to wear brightly coloured clothes or wigs and meet at 8am for an 8.30am departure.