A SPORTY husband and wife team will take on the Oxford Half Marathon to support the charity helping their two-year-old nephew who has a rare liver disease.

Christina and Ian Tuckwell, from Carterton, are busy putting in their final training for the 13.1 mile race on October 8, which will take them past some of the city's most famous landmarks.

Mrs Tuckwell, who has never run a half marathon before, said: “We’re doing this for my wonderful sister and her amazing superhero family.

“My beautiful two-year-old nephew, Reid, was diagnosed with the rare liver disease, biliary atresia, when he was just nine-weeks-old. He underwent major surgery but unfortunately this did not work and he will need a liver transplant in the future.

“My sister and her husband were told that Reid would find it difficult to crawl and to walk but he has proved to everyone what an amazingly strong little hero he truly is. Yes he has challenges ahead of him but he is a walking, talking, smiling beautiful little boy."

Mrs Tuckwell's sister Samantha Foster and her family, including Reid's twin brother Eldon, live in Desborough, Northamptonshire.

The 31-year-old teaching assistant added: “Children’s Liver Disease Foundation have been there since Reid’s diagnosis to help our family understand this awful disease and learn how to cope with it the best we can. Ian and I want to do anything we can to help which is why we decided on the Oxford Half Marathon.”

The course is unlikely to prove a problem for Mr Tuckwell, a 40-year-old RAF sergeant who regularly runs for RAF Brize Norton, but it will be a first for the mother of two.

She said: “I have not been running for too long and can’t say I love it by any means. I know this will be tough but my sister and her family have it tough every day.

“I just want to hit our fundraising target and feel we have done something positive to support them.”

Alison Taylor, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this however, we rely entirely on voluntary donations so it’s great to hear that Christina and Ian are doing this for us. The funds they raise will enable us to continue to support families like Reid’s throughout the UK. We hope they enjoy the experience and wish them all the best for the day”.

The couple have already nearly doubled their £500 target, with their current total standing at £895.

Mrs Tuckwell said: "It's amazing and we just want to raise as much as possible. All I'm thinking about now is getting over 10 miles, once I do that I'll feel like I can complete the whole thing."

To support the couple visit justgiving.com/fundraising/christina-and-ian