A determined father has vowed to keep running marathons until a cure is found for a "cruel disease" that will make his sons waste away.

Epsom author Nick Taussig’s sons Oskar, 1, and Theo, 3, were diagnosed with the same fatal incurable disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in July.

Utterly devastated, Mr Taussig immediately pledged to do all he could to find a cure and signed up for the first of many marathons.

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He has already raised more than £41,000 and become a trustee at research charity Harrison's Fund based in Cobham.

Speaking to the Epsom Guardian Mr Taussig said: "All the fundraising stuff becomes a lot easier when it’s your own children.

"When it’s your own children, it doesn’t take much to do everything you possibly can to fundraise and find a cure."

He has realised that money alone will not solve the problem, adding: "It’s going to take years but hopefully we will get there."

Outpouring of support after young brothers diagnosed with "cruel" disease 

Mr Taussig ran the Farnham Pilgrim marathon in September and he will run the A20 Path 'n' Downs Marathon in Kent in November.

His wife, artist Klara Cecmanova, is co-curating an exhibition and art auction in aid of Harrison's Fund at a gallery in Notting Hill in December.

Mr Taussig said: "It’s such a cruel disease because they slow down more and more. Their friends get stronger and they get weaker.

"Teenage boys should not be in wheelchairs or die when they are 20 years old."

When asked how the family are managing to cope, he said: "It becomes a new reality.

"We don’t have a choice but cope. We just have to carry on. It’s not a choice but you do what you do."

"The flip side to all of this: I feel closer to my sons that I have ever been and I feel closer to my friends and family than I have ever been. It brings out the best in you and other people."

Mr Taussig is a film producer and has written four critically acclaimed novels - Love and Mayhem, Don Don and Gorilla Guerrilla and the Distinguished Assassin.

Barry Martin, co-curator of the art show at Debut Contemporary in Notting Hill, said: "The exhibition focusses on the young amongst us, who for many reasons don’t make it into adulthood.

"It is a continuing tragedy that manifests itself at all levels of society in all parts of the world, and is without borders.

"Wars, diseases, afflictions, all take their toll on young and old, and in many cases can be avoided with preventive measures, good will amongst all men, and research into finding a cure for near fatal and fatal diseases.

Mr Martin added: "A particular and devastating illness is Duchenne Muscular dystrophy, that at present is incurable.

"It afflicts children, 99 per cent boys, and claims the lives of 100 per cent of its victims! Mostly passing away in their late teens and early twenties, they would also have been confined to a wheelchair from the age of 12"

One in 3,500 boys get Duchenne muscular dystrophy, according to the NHS. Symptoms are usually evident before the age of six.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/NTaussig

Visit www.harrisonsfund.com

  • Human Suffering at Times of Crises, Part II - When Boys Become Men
  • VIP Private View and Charity Art Auction on December 3
  • Co-curated by Barry Martin and Klara Cecmanova in support of Harrison's Fund
  • Debut Contemporary, Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill
  • www.debutcontemporary.com/events/