A disabled man is preparing to take part in a sponsored 10k race after undergoing a year of chemotherapy and steroid treatment that has left him wheelchair- bound.

Dave Scates, 31, from Chatham, first fell ill at just six years old when doctors discovered that he had a tumour on his spinal cord.

Unable to remove it, doctors treated him in the hope it would shrink and not cause any further problems.

But in April 2016, the gym fanatic woke up one morning to find he was unable to move his legs. He was rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital in London where doctors discovered that the tumour had grown.

He said: “I had just got my qualification to be a fitness instructor and I was going to the gym four times a week. I just had to stop going, I was getting weaker.”

“I was living in London at the time, but my house had far too many stairs and I couldn’t get around easily so I had to move back home.”

The freelance graphic designer, who previously used a crutch to walk, is now confined to a wheelchair.

But Dave hasn’t let that stop him from keeping fit and he is now set to wheel the Parallel London 10km route around Olympic Park today.

The fully accessible event, now in its second year, is aimed at all ages and abilities. Mr Scates is hoping to complete the route in an hour but admitted it was a rather ambitious target.

He added: “I’m really excited. I will be wheeling it on my own, but my brother-in-law is running it as well.

“I will be raising money for Livability. They helped me set up my own company and I want to give back to them to say thank you for all their support. So far I have raised £250 but I would like to raise a lot more.”

Dave has been training for the event since ending his treatment in March, getting back to the gym and using the track at Medway Valley Park.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidscates