A former EastEnders scriptwriter who found himself living his own real-life drama when his son almost died from type-1 diabetes is to run 100km in order to raise funds to fight the disease.

Simon Vinnicombe, 40, and his wife Tracy, from Chessington, say it's a living nightmare each night when they must get up around seven times to monitor the blood sugar levels of son George, aged six.

And this Saturday (September 30) Simon is aiming to hit a target of £100,000 with the run lasting around 11 hours, for which he has been in training for around six months.

He said: “All we want is to be able to watch George sleep without wondering if he will ever wake again. We really are living every parent's nightmare every night.

“I’m absolutely sure that there are brilliant people who are doing brilliant work that is going to end this condition, but they need money for research.”

Simon is a professional playwright who has also written for BBC Radio 4 as well as London theatres including The Old Vic and Southwark Playhouse.

His own-real life drama unfolded when George was six months old when he and Tracy took him to A & E fearing he had a cold, but were told he was going to die because he had suffered a virus which had destroyed his pancreas. That meant he couldn't produce insulin and his blood was turning to acid.

“George showed incredible fight to come back to us," said Simon. "They told us he was one of the sickest kids ever to leave intensive care."

Simon will begin his run at around 5.30am this Saturday, which is the sixth anniversary of the day when George was diagnosed. Much of the route will entail laps around the Tamsin Trail around Richmond Park.

Simon has already raised almost £60,000 towards his target, including a staggering £51,000 in one night following a speech at the The House Of Lords.

If you can donate please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/georgesrunfortype1

Watch this video of George's story at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kzvWbmmKbk&t=5s