When Steven Smith’s two-year-old son Max collapsed and died from a heart condition that he had no idea existed he vowed to do more to raise awareness of children’s heart problems. 

Now the 28-year-old hod carrier is living up to his word and will single-handedly carry a hod full of bricks eight miles from Headington to his home in Abingdon. 

He hopes to raise at least £1,000 for children’s charity CRY, which researches heart disease in young children, as well as increase awareness of children’s heart conditions. 

“I had always wanted to do something,” said Mr Smith, who lives with partner Lisa and their five-year-old son Blake in Ramsons Way, Abingdon. 

“It wasn’t until I saw a story in the Oxford Mail recently about a couple whose daughter had died from a heart condition that I was spurred on to do something.   Many people are not aware of the conditions that are associated with young people and their hearts.  It’s not something that’s widely known about.”

Mr Smith and his partner had no idea their son was suffering from acute myocarditis, a viral infection of the heart muscle. 

He explained how, in just one evening, his son went from being a seemingly healthy little boy to falling fatally ill. 

He said: “It was late in the evening and Max just seemed a bit ‘off’. 

He started to get a bit worse so we called the NHS Direct help line but within a matter of minutes he had some sort of attack so we called the ambulance.  They came out to us but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.   

“We had absolutely no idea he had anything wrong with him and we didn’t know anything about heart conditions.  It all came totally out of the blue.  We’ve since learned that many people can have the viral infection he died from and not suffer any consequences.” 

Mr Smith will be taking part in his eight-mile ‘hodathon’ on Wednesday and is hoping to complete it in about three hours. 

“I’ve been training twice a week carrying a hod full of bricks about in the dark for about two and a half hours a time.  It’s been going well and I’m feeling fit.” 

Mr Smith’s brother, David, and friend Gerald Mortimer will walk the eight miles with him, carrying water and offering support. 

“I’m looking forward to it,” he added.  “It should be good fun and a good way to raise funds.” 

If you would like to sponsor Steven visit www.justgiving.com/littlestar