A FATHER-OF-THREE from Northumberland will take part in this year’s Great North Run to raise awareness of his daughter’s illness.

When four-year-old Emily Carney was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease, parents Neil and Kirsty were devastated.

The couple, also parents to Thomas, 8, and Mathew, 6, had noticed their daughter’s walk wasn’t developing normally and took her to see the family doctor who referred them to specialists. After months of testing, Emily was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in March last year.

The condition is a rare disease that affects approximately 1 in 6,500 babies born, meaning about 100 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Experts at the Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle’s International Centre for Life, explained that Emily had SMA Type 3.

Although the condition is the least severe form of the disease, it means nerve impulses are restricted, resulting in some of the muscles becoming weak and wasted.

Patients with SMA Type 3 may have difficulty with walking, running and balance which becomes progressively worse.

Now Neil, 41, has vowed to take on the 13.1-mile run to support his daughter. He won his spot in the Great North Run through the Journal after we secured the last 100 places for readers as part of our Great North Fitness Revolution.