A doctor is running this year’s London Marathon to help his 18-year-old nephew who suffers from a rare eye condition.

Dr Dev Malhotra, a GP with Brigstock Medical Practice in Thornton Heath, is raising money for research into choroideremia – a rare condition affecting his nephew Joe Pepper.

Dr Malhotra, 38, will run the Marathon on April 25, in aid of Fight for Sight.

He is raising funds to support research at Imperial College London where researchers are hoping to develop a treatment to help Joe and others affected by choroideremia.

He said: “I know what pain to expect this time round but it’s great to have a worthwhile cause to spur me on.”

His whole family are behind his fundraising including his six-year-old son who is persuading friends at Elmhurst Boys School in South Croydon to raise money by filling Smartie tubes with their pocket money.

Joe is also involved in fundraising for Fight for Sight at Trinity School where he is studying for his A-levels.

His aunt Katharine said: “I think Joe is quite inspiring, he gets stuck into everything and doesn’t let his visual impairment stop him doing what he wants to do.”

To support Dev’s fundraising, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DevMalhotra.