A dad-of-two is aiming to run every street in the borough in aid of a close cause after his daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease aged 11.  

Richard McQuilton-Morgan, of Valley Mill Lane, Bury, plans to complete the gruelling challenge within 12 months.

His "6-Town Challenge", which will see him run through Prestwich, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Whitefield and Bury, has been created to raise money for Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group. 

He said: “My daughter Molly was diagnosed with Addison's disease at 11-years-old.  

“It's an adrenal condition so the adrenal gland at the top of her kidneys only works at about five per cent so she has to take steroids to stay alive.” 

Bury Times: Richard and his daughter Molly Richard and his daughter Molly (Image: Public)

Molly, who is now aged 18 and studying at university in Liverpool, is thought to have picked up a virus aged around 10 and her mum Donna says she is incredibly lucky that the disorder was diagnosed.  

Donna said: “She struggles every day to be honest but for many children at the age she was, it gets misdiagnosed.  

“The body just starts to fail and it was two years before she was finally diagnosed, doctors said if it had been another two weeks later, she probably would have died.” 

There is no cure for Addison's and Molly has to take medication daily to survive or else she "goes into crisis".  

Donna added: “She's amazing and is even at university now staying away from home.  

“She's worked really hard, but there are lows, if she gets a sickness bug she can't take her medication, which happened quiet recently.  

 “This means she goes into crisis and her organs start failing so we had to rush over to Liverpool, and I inject her with hydrocortisone and rush to A&E to put her on drips.” 

Donna said that Molly is often fatigued and in pain and this is one of the reasons that Richard is raising money for the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group.

Bury Times: Richard McQuilton-Morgan, from Vally Mill Lane, BuryRichard McQuilton-Morgan, from Vally Mill Lane, Bury (Image: Public)

Describing it as a charity close to their hearts, Richard said: “It's just really important for awareness and that if this happens to another family, the disease gets diagnosed quickly.”  

As he prepares to run the six towns, Richard added: “There are around 550 streets in Radcliffe, 360 in Ramsbottom and over 1,100 in Bury. 

“In total, It’s going to be around 3,000 streets over the 6 towns. 

Richard is asking for donations to the charity or to be sponsored to run a specific street in the area for £1.00 to run it once or £2.00 to run it twice although he said: “I know that I am opening myself up here to something that I may end up regretting.” 

For more information or to donate and sponsor Richard click here or visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/6townchallenge

Read more:

If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.