A Gateshead dad has spoken of his immense pride at being able to complete the Great North Run with his disabled son for the first time.
Haydn Weymes, 17, suffers from an extremely rare chromosome disorder called 18q deletion and is unable to walk or talk.
But on Sunday he was able to make his debut in the world's biggest half marathon thanks to a new wheelchair provided by the Sunshine Fund.
READ MORE: Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
His dad Richard, 50, pushed Haydn around the 13.1-mile course in an impressive time of 1hr 50m in what was a special moment for the pair.
Runners and spectators alike cheered on the father and son, who proved popular by blasting out their favourite tunes on a Bluetooth speaker.
"Everything was absolutely brilliant," said Richard, who finished the race for the 25th time.
"Haydn wasn't in the best of moods on the day when he switched wheelchairs but we had the speaker playing music during the run.
"The crowds were phenomenal shouting Haydn's name. I was drifting away with the emotions of it all.
"I was on a high and I loved it. We'll be back next year, whether the race finishes in Newcastle or South Shields."
The Crawcrook lad was born with two holes in his heart and he was unable to breathe initially without oxygen pumped into his incubator.
During his life, the Newcastle United season ticket holder has undergone more than a dozen operations, and is fed through a gastric tube due to being unable to eat a solid meal.
The Sunshine Fund donated the new £3,000 specialised buggy for Haydn earlier this year which has made a huge difference to his life.
It was Richard's long-term ambition to be able to participate in the Great North Run with his beloved boy, and there was only one cause they were going to be running for.
He said: "I would only have wanted to have done this for the Sunshine Fund considering what they have done for us over the years.
"To raise £1,800 is fantastic to say thank you for their support.
"I've always wanted to take Haydn on the Great North Run and vowed to take him when he was old enough.
"I actually found the buggy to be comfortable to push. The different start times helped with not having big crowds with the wheelchair.
"I loved the route this year. Coming back over the Tyne Bridge and into my home city was special.
"I'd also like to thank my friend Paul Griffin who kept us company throughout and was a great help."
Haydn's mum Aly, 50, completed her first Great North Run for a different charity, while sisters Jessica, 21, and Olivia, 15, cheered them on at the finish line.
But the father and son are not finished. They have now set their sights on doubling the distance and taking on a full marathon later this year.
Richard said: "We are looking at doing the York Marathon in October so we best get training again."
To donate, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haydnalyrichard
For the latest local news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter here.
