FORMER World Champion 400m sprinter Iwan Thomas MBE has completed a gruelling 100 mile ultra marathon in honour of his son who was hospitalised during the race.

Iwan, who lives in Southampton, took part in the Centurion Running South Downs Way 100, a gruelling race with over 3,800m of elevation, raising over £20k for Group B Strep Support, the world’s leading charity working to eradicate Group B Strep infection in babies.

He received a call to say young Teddy had been taken ill at around mile 50, but completed the event to make him proud. The toddler is now recovering at home.

Iwan told the Daily Echo: “This was the most brutal thing I have ever done. The temperatures made what should have been a difficult run almost impossible for me.

"I got a phone call from home at mile 50 to say my son had been taken into hospital and I had the impossible decision to make - whether to jump in a car and go to him or complete the run to make him proud. That gave me the rocket I needed to get moving and just pick away at the miles."

Teddy was diagnosed with Group B Strep, an infection caused by streptococcal bacteria, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis, in December 2018 and spent the first ten days of his life in intensive care.

Iwan added: “Seeing Teddy covered in tubes and battling for his life was by far the worst experience of my life. If I can shine a light on this infection that claims the lives of so many young children then the pain of what I endured this weekend was 100 per cent worth it.”

The world renowned 400m sprinter had not run further than 26.2 miles before he began his training for the event and spent months training with endurance running legend Susie Chan and Mike Seaman, CEO of Raccoon Events Ltd, but was faced with obstacles including a car accident and injured foot.

Stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne, the South Downs Way 100 is considered one of the most challenge 100 milers in the UK and was the equivalent of 400 x 400m sprints.

Iwan’s journey is being documented and will be released on the YouTube channel Run Show TV this summer.

To donate, visit Iwan's Just Giving page.