Seaton Delaval dad to take on tough winter race for school that helped his son

A dad is preparing to take on a tough winter race in sub-zero temperatures - all to thank the special school that helped his son.

Lee Bowmaker decided to take part in the Winter Warrior challenge in honour of his four-year-old, Ashton, and Woodlawn School, in Whitley Bay.

Ashton has global developmental delay and has difficulties with communication. He also can't have any liquids through his mouth - he is given fluids through a tummy peg.

However, to the delight of his parents, the youngster has made great progress since he joined Woodlawn School in September, including picking up Makaton sign language.

Lee, 34, a heating engineer, from Seaton Delaval, said: "In the past, Ashton has never been able to communicate with us or even just tell us if he wants anything.

"But since he has started at Woodlawn, there's been a total transformation. He has started to communicate in Makaton and he has been coming along great.

"He understands a lot more and is able to ask for things through Makaton. It might seem like a small thing to other people but it's massive for him. It takes that frustration away."

Ashton Bowmaker, a pupil at Woodlawn School in Whitley Bay (Lee Bowmaker)

Now Lee is going to take part in Winter Warrior, billed as the "toughest obstacle course race above the arctic circle", and will be heading to Finland at the end of March.

As part of the challenge, he will be running in snow and ice as well as swimming in icy water over a 15km route, in temperatures dropping below zero.

And all money raised from the event will go towards the school.

Lee said: "I've never done anything like this before.

"But the school is a special place and Ashton loves it there. So if I can raise any money doing this idiotic thing, that would only be a small token of the thanks the school and all the staff deserve."

Woodlawn supports pupils, aged from two to 19, from across North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland.

The youngsters can have complex needs including moderate, profound and multiple learning difficulties, physical and medical disabilities, and sensory impairments.

To make a donation, visit this Gofundme page.