A HUDDERSFIELD-born man whose baby son died from cerebral palsy is competing in the London Marathon to raise funds for charity.
Jonathan Sykes, who grew up in Longwood, will run the marathon on April 13 with a picture of his first son, Christopher Jon, on the back of his shirt. He hopes to raise £1,5000 for Scope, the charity working with adults and children who have cerebral palsy.
Mr Sykes, 49, is the son of Marjorie Fairbank and the stepson of Christopher Fairbank, who live at Longwood Gate. He attended Paddock junior and infant schools and Salendine Nook High School.
He gained a degree in geology at Hull University before completing his MSc at Newcastle University. Mr Sykes then went to South Africa where he worked as a geologist for Consolidated Gold Mines.
His son was born in South Africa, where Mr Sykes lived for more than 20 years, but died before his first birthday.
Mr Sykes, who now lives in Newmarket, Suffolk, and works for a Cambridge sealants company, said he was taking part in the marathon to raise money for Scope. Christopher Jon would have been 25 this year.
Mr Sykes: “I really want to raise awareness of the condition and the problems it can bring. I will be turning 50 this year so it’s also in celebration of my birthday.”
A member of Ely Running Club, Mr Sykes has completed many races, including the Amsterdam Marathon last December and several endurance runs in South Africa.
