A FATHER whose only child was stillborn is planning on running a marathon to raise funds for charity.

Sean Lenton, from Barton, Oxford, lost his son two months before he was due to be born six years ago.

The grief and devastation led Mr Lenton, then 17, spiralling into depression by blaming himself for the loss of his child.

He and his partner also separated.

But after finding a new hobby through running, Mr Lenton has signed up to run the Brighton Marathon for national charity Tommy’s, which funds research into pregnancy problems.

The 21-year-old, who works at Screwfix in Cowley, said: “We lost our child and during that time I just sat in the house by myself and didn’t talk to anyone about it.

“It was two months until he would have been born and you’re getting ready to be parents and when something like this happens people think it’s their own fault and it makes it ten times worse.

“I didn’t leave the house because of it, I just sat there thinking it was my fault.

“But I started running and it really helped me and I started talking about it to my mum which made it so much better.”

Mr Lenton said there were endless days of crying, but now years down the line he could see there was nothing he or his partner could have done.

Next April, he will take part in the 26.2-mile-long Brighton Marathon around the seaside city.

And he has already begun his strict training regime by running some 10km races and half-marathons.

He added: “I just want to raise some money for Tommy’s charity, but also raise awareness so people are not afraid to speak about it. My message is that people are not alone and you can get help or even just talk to anyone about it.

“Even if it is someone who is not in the same situation as you at that time, they may have gone through it or may go through it in the future.

“That means someone can help you, but you may also help someone else by telling them of your experience.

“You’ve just got to talk about it.”

* If you would like to donate to Mr Lenton’s cause, visit his Justgiving page at justgiving.com/Sean-Lenton2016/