An able-bodied dad has been fighting through shoulder, hand, and hip pain while training for the London Marathon which he intends to complete in a wheelchair.

Wayne Smith is taking on the challenge tomorrow (Sunday) after being inspired by his three-year-old daughter Esme who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at 18 months.

The diagnosis means she is likely to spend her whole life in a wheelchair but Wayne, from Tovil, near Maidstone, wants to show her this should not be a hindrance.

The 39-year-old said: “SMA used to be a death sentence. She has type 2 which isn’t as severe but it’s only in the last two years that type 1 has no longer been a life-threatening condition.

“We’ve also been told she is to live a normal life but will be wheelchair-bound.

“She has to have constant treatment.”

SMA is a genetic condition that makes the muscles weaker and causes problems with movement.

It’s a serious condition that gets worse over time and there is no cure. Its symptoms can only be managed by treatments.

But Wayne wishes to show his daughter the condition will not define her and he has been training for the race under the mantra: “She is likely to spend her life in a wheelchair, the least her dad could do is 26.2 miles.”

The business owner started training in October.

He said: “I sat there in Tovil getting ready to make my way to East Farleigh via the river towpath and thought ‘what am I doing?’

“The first day I went white in the face and my wife knew what was going on in my head and asked ‘Have you had a realisation?’

“She’s used to me doing silly challenges but this one takes the biscuit.”

Since his first session, Wayne has racked up more than 1,000 miles in the chair, going through eight inner tubes and a pair of gloves a week, setting him back £18 each time.

The training has also put a lot of strain on his shoulders and hands and he also suffers pain from two hip replacement operations.

Wayne had a setback on April 2 when he was involved in a car accident which aggravated his hip pain and added some back pain - but he was determined to carry on training.

He said: “Esme hasn’t got a say in the matter, she’ll be stuck in a wheelchair, so this is for her.

“It has 100% given me a new appreciation for people in wheelchairs.

“People are living in them 24/7. The slightest incline, even up a driveway, is difficult and then you also have to avoid mud, puddles and dog poo.

“I get it on my hands all the time while training so it’s a massive hat off to those who have to live with it every day.”

Wayne hopes to complete the marathon in eight hours.

At the time of writing, the JustGiving page Wayne set up had hit £11,200; exceeding his goal of £10,000 for Demelza.

Hayley Richardson, director of fundraising and marketing at Bobbing-based children’s hospice Demelza said: “A huge thank you to Wayne for taking on this challenge.

“Everyone at Demelza will be cheering him to the finish line.”