HE’S the teacher that has run thousands of miles to raise cash for a boy who was left fighting for his life after an accident outside his home.

Jonathan Flynn, deputy headteacher at Swanmore Primary School, has completed a marathon run of more than 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.

Jon concluded his gruelling challenge with a special fun run today - which equated to running five and half miles every day, celebrating his achievement with friends, family and supporters.

He left the Wickham Centre at 8.30am this morning with more than 200 supporters running, walking and cycling along the former Meon Valley railway line - his favourite running route.

Jon, of Buddens Road,Wickham, has already raised his initial target of £2,017 and has since raised £6,500 to complete the challenge.

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

"I would go out every day, including at 4.30am in the morning when on school residentials.

"On the completion of my 11th month consecutively running daily, I tripped and fell, smacking the palms of my hands on the frozen ground and considered the pain I was in.

"I then thought 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.”

Felix, who was a keen athlete, had to be flown to Southampton General Hospital and placed into a coma after the accident. Among his many injuries, he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

In the care of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Felix made remarkable progress in his determination to walk again.

The Fit for Felix campaign 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 at Southampton General Hospital.

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