A TEN-YEAR-OLD from Basingstoke is running a marathon a week for 20 weeks to raise money and awareness for the rare condition her baby cousin suffers from.

Grace Turner-Cox, from South Ham, wanted to do something to support her cousin Henry, who was born in May 2020 with a rare health condition.

During his 10 week health visitor check, Henry was referred to John Radcliffe hospital where he was diagnosed as having Trigonocephaly Metopic Synostosis and Hypotelorism, a type of craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis is a rare craniofacial condition where two or more plates of the skull prematurely fuse to each other, usually before birth. This results in the baby’s skull not growing properly and the newborn’s head shape being different at birth. The shape of the head may continue to change after birth as it grows.

Grace decided at Christmas that she wanted to raise awareness for Henry and began to research fundraising for the charity Headlines.

As she loves running, she decided she would run one marathon every week from January 1 until Henry’s first birthday. Henry’s favourite animal is a zebra, so Grace has been running in zebra dress-up every Sunday.

She has so far completed 6 marathons (158 miles) and her fundraising page has raised more than £1,000.

Headlines is the leading UK charity supporting people with craniosynostosis and other rare craniofacial conditions.

Craniosynostosis affects 1 in 2,000 births, and up to 350 children are born with this condition in the UK every year.

Henry will have craniofacial surgery to improve the head shape and reduce the possibility of developing raised intracranial pressure.

To donate to Grace's cause, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/kerrie-turner88

Grace’s impressive challenge forms part of a wider Henry’s Heroes project, in which family and friends have come together in aid of the charity.

This has included raffles organised by local businesses Mason Stoner Tattoos and Matched Boutique.

Henry’s parents, Chloe and Jay, have also made contact with other families with children with craniosynostosis and the amazing community have been donating crochet zebras to be sent to these little warriors.

Grace’s mum, Hannah, said: “We are so grateful for all the support we have received so far, but we need your help. We need donations and more zebras to send to all the little heroes in the care packages we have been sending off around the UK, and all the way to The Netherlands and Australia!

“We want to raise awareness to everyone.”

For more information about Henry’s Heroes, visit: facebook.com/101762081869154