'I ran the width of England for my inspiring brother'

A man has run the width of England in one go, inspired by his close relationship with his younger brother who lives with cerebral palsy.

Charlie Isaac, 32, who grew up near Stroud, Gloucestershire, completed the 70‑mile (115km) challenge along Hadrian's Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle, raising £5,900 for Wiltshire's Prospect Hospice where his brother Harvey, 29, works.

The pair are also the sons of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies star Dr Dawn Harper.

Charlie said: "I am so proud of Harvey, not just for his resilience living with such a cruel disability, but also for the amazing work he does in the charity sector. This is my small way of showing support."

Cerebral palsy is a name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination.

Charlie took on the endurance challenge alongside three school friends, beginning in Carlisle, and finishing 70 miles (112 km) later in Newcastle.

With about 15 miles (24 km) to go, he described a "dark period", when calls with family reminded him why he started: "Me and Harvey are really really close, we always have been."

He said his brother's outlook on life had been a constant source of inspiration.

"Harvey probably won't thank me for saying this but he has more tenacity than probably anybody you'll ever meet.

"He doesn't let his disability get in the way of his life, he drives a car, he socialises, he works."

"Don't get me wrong, there are things about his disability that make life harder for him, but he always rolls his sleeves up and gets really stuck in."

Harvey works for the fundraising team at Prospect Hospice in Wroughton while living with cerebral palsy, the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination.

"For him to do something like this and really give something back to the communities that the hospice serves is truly admirable," Charlie added.

"That spurred me on to try and do something helpful to assist that good work that he's doing."

Harvey said their close relationship had always been central to both their lives.

"We do support each other massively and I'm very very proud and glad to have such a such a close relationship and actually, work colleagues have also all pointed out how lovely it is that we are able to get behind each other.

"Just the amount that Charlie's managed to raise, £5,909, is absolutely amazing when you think about the idea that to staff the inpatient unit for one day in Wroughton costs £2,798.

"So it really puts into perspective when we join forces as brothers what we're able to do."

"Lots of people do not realise that hospice care isn't fully funded by the NHS," he added.

"Prospect Hospice itself is only around 18% funded by the NHS and the rest of the money relies on good will of people to do crazy challenges like this."

Dr Harper said her sons' bond shapes how they approach life.

"Harvey really focuses on what he can do, on his ability.

"He would make light of it but his life is more of a challenge, I think maybe that gives him a different empathy for people who are struggling, emotionally or physically, he kind of understands what it's like for things to be difficult.

"And I think that gives him an extra tool in his toolbox to help people who need that extra bit of support," she added.

The doctor, who writes and broadcasts on matters of health and wellbeing, added she often hears about "the incredible work" hospices do.

"So I'm super proud of Harvey for working there and for doing his bit and of Charlie for raising that money," she added.

The brothers are already preparing for another fundraiser, joining cricket friends from the village where they grew up to take part in the Swindon Half Marathon later this year.

The event has nominated Prospect Hospice as its benefiting charity for the second year in a row.

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