The enthusiastic runners, which included Hartlepool boxer Michael Hunter and Hartlepool United striker Adam Boyd, pulled on their trainers and pounded the streets in aid of battling 10-week-old Ryan Kinsella.

Little Ryan was born with a double inlet left ventricle and hole in the heart which means his heart does not pump blood around his body as it should.

He has already undergone one major operation at the specialist Freeman Hospital in Newcastle to start to correct the condition, which affects just one in up to 30,000 babies.

Caring dad Rikki, 30, organised the eight-mile run around Hartlepool on Sunday in aid of the hospital's specialist baby heart unit.

He was joined by Hartlepool boxing champion Michael Hunter, Pools striker Adam Boyd and 15 other close family and friends.

Rikki, who lives in Rossmere, Hartlepool, said: "We all completed the run and had a great day. The sponsor money hasn't all come in yet, but it will certainly be in the thousands so we are really pleased with how it went."

The course started from the Travellers Rest pub, in Stockton Street, Hartlepool, and took in Seaton Lane, Brenda Road, along Seaton Carew sea front and back to the pub.

A raffle raised £500 alone for the cause.

Doctors first discovered Ryan's condition after care worker mum Michelle Groom, 27, went for a 20-week scan when she was pregnant.

But he amazed his parents and doctors by bouncing back quickly from his first bout of surgery last month.

He was allowed home after just four days after having a band fitted to his heart, but will need two more operations before he is old enough to start school.

Rikki, a greenkeeper at Wynyard Golf Club, thanked everyone who helped make the run a success, in particular godparents Tony and Debi I'Anson who donated raffle prizes and brought in sponsorship.