THE superhero capes might just be fancy dress, but to Steve Mansell, his sister-in-law and nieces really are heroes.

Nikki Mansell and her daughters Leah and Josie all joined Milton Keynes Half Marathon this month to raise money for his charity.

Mrs Mansell ran the half marathon distance while Leah and Josie, aged ten and seven, ran the 1.5 mile superhero run.

All three were raising money for Oxfordshire disability advocacy charity My Life My Choice, of which Mr Mansell, from Wantage, is a trustee.

The charity campaigns for equal rights locally and nationally, and trustees have met with the highest politicians in the land.

Mr Mansell, who has a learning disability and works in a supermarket, has been a trustee for five years and last year met David Cameron at Downing Street.

Mrs Mansell said she was inspired to raise money for the charity after seeing her brother-in-law's passion for it.

She said: "Steve is my husband Phil's brother, we see a lot of him and he talks a lot about what he does with MLMC. "

My Life My Choice, founded in 1997, describes itself as a "self-advocacy" organisation.

It aims to raise the self-esteem and quality of life for people with learning disabilities by providing volunteering, training, employment and social opportunities for members.

In the 2014/15 financial year My Life My Choice’s income was £271,629 – 37 per cent up on the year before. It spent £225,887.

Mrs Mansell is still collecting cash for the charity. Sponsor her online at justgiving.com/Nikki-Mansell