A man from Royton is taking on a staggering eight races and covering a total distance of almost 100 miles in just one year to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Patrick Harwood embarked on his mission of completing the 94.2 mile distance after suddenly losing his mum Moira to a rare cardiovascular disorder the night before her birthday in April last year.

The 34-year-old had been planning to pick his two young sons up from school and take them to visit his mum for her 58th birthday but instead had to break the heartbreaking news of her death.

Partick and his sister Katherine, 31, were at a loss as to what had caused their mum’s death and only later learnt she had had giant cell myocarditis which had gone undiagnosed.

There is no way of knowing what caused the condition and Patrick is now determined to raise funds towards researching and raising awareness of the disorder.

The Oldham Times: Moira and her grandsons Moira and her grandsons (Image: Patrick Harwood)

Discussing what keeps him going as his next race approaches, he said: “When things get tough, I think of the reason why I’m doing it which is to raise money as much money as possible, so no one else has to go through what we went through.

“You hear about other families going through it but it’s only when it’s you that you realise the impact it has on a family.

“Me and my wife got married six months after it happened, and my mum wasn’t at the wedding and had been really looking for to it, and my sister has bought her first house which she will never get to see or my little boys growing up.

“I hope to stop at least one family going through something like this.

“Hopefully they can do more research into heart and cardiovascular diseases and see how they can combat them long term.”

Partick’s mum Moira was well known and loved within the community, particularly among families due to her work at schools in Oldham.

She was the manager of the St. Aidan and Oswald Out of School Care Club after joining the school in the mid-90s, and started at Newman RC College in Chadderton in 2000 where she stayed for 22 years and helped support students with their mental health.

The Oldham Times: Moira and her grandsons Alfie, 8, and Bobby, 6.Moira and her grandsons Alfie, 8, and Bobby, 6. (Image: Patrick Harwood)

Last June, on Patrick’s dad Stewart’s 70th birthday the family went to Newman RC College for the official opening of the Harwood Suite a mental health and wellbeing room that has been named after Moira.

St. Aidan and Oswald’s Roman Catholic School has also named one of their end-of-year trophies in her honour.

This year Patrick has already completed the Manchester Marathon, Great Manchester Run, and the Tatton Park 10k, and is next taking on the Tough Mudder North West and the Great North Run over just one weekend.

Patrick is racing in the Tough Mudder on Saturday, September 9, and will then take part in the Great North Run, the largest half marathon in the world, the following day.

Just a few weeks later Patrick is taking part in the Rochdale 10k but that is not the only race he will be completing in October as he is also set to run the Manchester Half Marathon and the Oldham Half Marathon that month.

Next year Patrick is planning to do the Manchester Half Marathon again next year and is hoping to get a charity place for the London Marathon.

Partick is hoping to raise as much as possible for the British Heart Foundation. To donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/patrick-harwood3