STAFF at a Bridgwater business are putting on their running shoes to raise money for a local charity.

Tinamarie Potter, along with four other employees at Flowers International, including owner Beverley Crockett, are taking part in the Bridgwater Half Marathon, 10K and 5K.

The group are raising money for Elliot’s Touch, which was founded in May 2015, after 13 month old Elliot Stevens died from heart and mitochondrial disease.

Tinamarie Potter is a close friend of Donna and Paul Stevens, Elliot’s parents. She said: “Elliot Stevens was taken ill last November.

“He spent four months in intensive care at hospitals in Bristol and London.

“He underwent four successful operations and survived the fifth, but he died hours later on March 3 this year, only 13 months old.

“Elliot was Paul and Donna’s hero and was their inspiration – they were so proud of his determination to live."

“They wanted to keep his memory alive and make him proud.

“He was battling childhood cardiomyopathy and a separate genetic condition mitochondrial disease.

“They came to me and asked if we would do Elliot’s funeral flowers and then as a company we decided we wanted to do as much as we could to help.

“Paul and Donna set up Elliot’s touch charity in May 2015 to help raise awareness and money to help fund the research for cardiomyopathy and mitochondrial disease.”

Natalie Chard, Juliet Holm and Lisa Gardener are joining Tinamarie and Beverley in the races on Sunday.

“We have all been training hard and posting our runs on Facebook, so people can see how we’re doing and our progress,” added Tinamarie.

“We wanted to show our support to Paul and Donna and also do our bit by raising awareness- posters in all the shop windows for Elliot’s Touch.

“In the shop we have a collection tin and we collect stamps.

“The company has also sponsored 60 charity t-shirts."

“A former employee, Annie Millard managed to get £150 sponsors from friends at her work place Re Fresco Gerber which we were over the moon with To sponsor the group or for more information, visit elliotstouch.org