A Douglas father who unexpectedly lost his 11-year-old son earlier this year is preparing to take on a gruelling fundraising challenge in his memory this weekend.

Dean Corlett’s son Lucas died unexpectedly on June 4. Lucas had myotonic dystrophy and faced adversity throughout his short life.

Dean is now planning to take part in Isle of Listen’s Tough Mucka event on Sunday (September 27), completing the 10km course at Cronk Honna Road in the south of the island.

He said the event would be the first of a series of challenges intended to test both his physical and mental strength, while raising money for causes that supported Lucas and his family.

Writing on his JustGiving fundraising page, Dean said: ‘We unexpectedly lost our whole world, our superhero son Lucas aged 11.

‘As his father I want to continue his memory and face adversity in challenges for great causes.’

Dean said organisers Isle of Listen had allowed him to take on the fundraising challenge with the additional requirement of completing each obstacle twice.

Half of the money raised through the challenge will be donated to Wish Upon a Dream IOM, which Dean said had supported Lucas and the family for years.

Describing the challenge as the ‘warm up start of what is to come’, Dean said he wanted to test his physical and mental strength ‘to do this for my monkey boy’.

Dean is appealing for donations, saying the money raised will go towards causes he describes as ‘amazing’.

There is no money target set for the fundraiser, with more than £2,600 having already been raised.

If you wish to find out more about the challenge or make a donation, you can visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/dean-corlett-2?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=WA

More information on the Tough Mucka event can also be found at https://www.islelisten.im/toughmucka/