A dad will take on a marathon challenge this April after his baby daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at just seven weeks old.

Anthony Roch, 37, who works at the Tickled Pig restaurant in Wimborne, will complete the London Marathon this year to raise cash for Children with Cancer UK.

He was inspired to take part in the run after daughter Isabel’s devastating diagnosis.

The little girl was born in March 2012 with a purple mark on the left-hand side of her face that was dismissed as a birthmark by doctors.

However, within a month the mark had doubled in size and covered her left ear.

The tot suffered a gruelling six-hour operation to remove the tumour, in which she lost her ear, followed by months of chemotherapy.

Little Isabel is now in remission, and her proud dad said she is doing well.

“Everything happened at once,” said Mr Roch.

“We have three other children, my stepchildren, who are aged 10, nine and six, so we were already very busy. We were in the middle of moving, which my soon-to-be wife did entirely by herself while I was in the hospital with Isabel.

“I also lost my job in recruitment. But we just got on with it to be honest.”

“We were on the waiting list to take her to America for proton therapy, but she went into remission before we were about to go,” said Mr Roch.

“Now it’s just a matter of ‘wait and see’. She is an amazing little girl and we just have to hope she is going to be fine for the rest of her life. She is absolutely beautiful, and doing really well.”

Mr Roch is hoping to raise £3,000 with his marathon run.

To donate, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/anthonyroch.