Hundreds of people are preparing to take part in the fourth annual Romsey Relay Marathon organised by Romsey’s Rotary Club.
And among them are 50 runners who are raising money for Toby Dobson and the Hampshire school that supports him.
The nine-year-old from Chandlers Ford has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease.
The youngster’s twin brother died at just two hours old but Toby, who weighed just 1lb 12oz at birth, has battled through life, undergoing heart surgery, a hernia operation and eight blood transfusions, spending 160 days in hospital.
Now his family hope to raise more than £4,000 by taking part in the event.
The cash will be split between three causes with £500 going to the Rotary Club and the rest being shared between Team Toby’s charity which helps his family pay for specialist equipment and treatment and the youngster’s school Shepherds Down School in Compton, Winchester.
The school will use their share of the cash to pay for music therapy for its students who have complex learning needs, which currently costs £1,000 a month.