A FATHER-OF-SIX will run the London Marathon to raise thousands of pounds for a charity helping tackle the disease that has devastated his family.

Cliff Bowers, of Northallerton, has lost his mother and three of his siblings to Huntingdon’s Disease (HD).

The 45-year-old, who runs a market stall repairing and selling watches, also has another brother and sister fighting HD, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.

Mr Bowers was the only one of six children to escape the hereditary condition.

His mother, Barbara, spent 30 years fighting the illness, and died in 1994.

Two of his brothers, Paul and Andrew, took their own lives rather than face its devastating effects.

Mr Bowers’ oldest sister, Susan, died three years ago.

His sister, Carol, and brother, Ted, are in the latter stages HD.

Mr Bowers, of Pinfold Drive, Northallerton, is in training for the marathon, which takes place on April 26.

He hopes to raise more than £2,000 for the Huntingdon’s Disease Association, which provides help and support to people living with the disease.

HD is caused by a faulty gene, which leads to damage of the nerve cells in areas of the brain.

This leads to gradual physical, mental and emotional changes.

Each person whose parent has HD is born with a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the disease.

The early symptoms can include clumsiness, depression and short-term memory lapses.

In the later stages of the disease, patients need round-the-clock nursing care.

Secondary illnesses, such as pneumonia, are often the actual cause of death.

Mr Bowers said: "Running the London Marathon will be tough, a huge challenge.

"But it is nothing compared to what the rest of my family has gone through.

"I know I have been really lucky as far as the disease is concerned, because I am the only one without the gene.

"Having to watch them deal with it over the years has obviously been incredibly tough.

"You start feeling useless, because whatever you can do for them, there is no cure.

"It is heart-breaking, having to just watch them bloody dying."

Because Mr Bowers does not have the faulty gene, his six children, who are aged between 14 and 24, are not at risk from HD.

Mr Bowers, who operates his market stall in Northallerton, Thirsk and Leyburn, paid tribute to his customers and others who have pledged sponsorship money and helped him get within his £2,000 target.

He said: "I have done other charity things in the past, like Cleveland Way and Hadrian’s Wall, but this is the first time I’ve run a marathon.

"My customers have been great, very supportive, as have the people of Northallerton in general."

Mr Bowers’ wife, Debbie, a physiotherapy assistant at the Friarage Hospital, said the family was "extremely proud" of his efforts.

She said: "Not just for running the marathon, but for the way he has coped with seeing his family go through this.

"It is fantastic, the way he deals with everything that is going on and keeps everything as normal as possible."

To sponsor Mr Bowers, visit justgiving.com/cliffbowers For more information about HD, visit hda.org.uk