A SIX-year-old is putting on his running boots to travel up to 100 miles as a thanks to the NHS.

Ballard School pupil Luca Summers, from Christchurch, has raised over £1,500 after taking on 30 miles but plans to achieve 100 miles by the end of April.

Planning to run every day as part of his daily exercise, he inherited the 'running gene' from his mother who was training for the London Marathon before it got cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Completing his first five-mile run a week into April, he decided to take on his own challenge to raise money for frontline hospital staff.

His mum Laura said: "We are so proud of Luca and it’s easy to forget he is only six years old.

"His running begun on April 1 as he was inspired by my running efforts. I was training for the London marathon and when it got cancelled I decided to run my own marathon from our house which I did on March 25."

All the money raised through Luca's new skill will be given to Bournemouth Hospital Charity.

The six-year-old, who has regularly swam with local team Seagulls, was inspired by Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old who recently completed 100 lengths round his garden to raise money for the NHS.

Laura, who is also mum to 15-year-old Connor Summers, added: "He was very quickly clocking up the mileage, and enjoying his running.

"After being inspired by Captain Tom, he wanted to use his new skill to raise money for our local hospital, so I set up a just giving page and he gave himself a target of £1500 which he is now very close to hitting today.

"He completed 20 miles quickly, which made him up his target to 40 miles, and now he’s suggesting 100 miles throughout the rest of the month."

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laura-summers17.

He was very quickly clocking up the mileage, and enjoying his running. After being inspired by Captain Tom, he wanted to use his new skill to raise money for our local hospital, I set up a just giving page and he gave himself a target of £1500 which he is now very close to hitting today. He completed 20 miles quickly, which made him up his target to 40 miles, and now he’s suggesting 100 miles throughout the rest of the month!

As his mum I am balancing his little legs, and his drive and determination.

Luca is a very sporty child and swims for the local swim club Seaguls, so I know he has a very good level of fitness to carry him through this goal.

Luca has an older brother called Connor who is 15 and very proud of his little brother. They both attend Ballard school in New Milton and we live in Christchurch.

Luca is keen to get lots of support to raise money for the NHS.