Witney businessman Leigh Kendall will be among 3,000 runners taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) first Blenheim Palace Half Marathon next month.

And cheering him on will be his four-year old-son, Harry, who fought his own battle with heart disease.

Mr Kendall, 36, who is CEO of the insurance firm Leisureinsure in Witney, will run the 10km route of the BHF Half Marathon to say thank you to the heart surgeons at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital who saved his son’s life.

Harry, now four, was diagnosed with a heart murmur shortly after his birth and further exploration uncovered a significant 10mm wide hole between the bottom two chambers of his heart; a condition known as ventricular septal defect.

Mr Kendall explained: “My wife Gina and I were told there was good news and bad news; the good news was that it could be fixed by stitching a patch over the hole, and the bad news was that they would need to open up Harry’s chest to do it. If they didn’t operate his life expectancy was estimated to be just nine years.”

Harry was nine months old when he had the operation to have the hole repaired.

Mr Kendall, who also has a one-month-old daughter Beatrice, said: “It was obviously a horrendous time for us, particularly as his heart stopped several times when he was in intensive care.

“But the surgeon and his team did a fantastic job and Harry made a full recovery and today he is just like any other boy his age. His next check-up is not until 2015.”

The first event of its kind organised by the BHF at Blenheim, the half marathon takes place on Sunday October 2 and incorporates four routes designed to cater for all – the 13 mile, the10km, a family fun run and even a corporate relay.

Two thousand people have already signed up to take part, but the BHF hopes at least a thousand more will swell their ranks.

Sarah Kirkpatrick, regional event organiser for the BHF said: “We’re really grateful that Leigh has decided to take part in our run to raise money to help other people just like his son. This is going to be a fantastic event. Completing a course like this and raising vital funds at the same time gives you a great sense of achievement, so I’m asking for runners, gym-goers, families, groups of friends and anyone who wants to do their bit for a good cause, to join us and save lives.”

Mr Kendall added: “We really do feel very fortunate that Harry now has a healthy heart.

“Sadly there were other parents on the same ward that weren’t as lucky as us; their children had heart problems and conditions that were much more difficult and even impossible to fix.”

Mr Kendall is hoping to raise at least £1,000 for the charity and is going to match the amount, up to £750, himself.

To sponsor him visit www.justgiving. com/1leroy .

Registration is now open for the BHF event which is accessible to everyone, whether you walk, jog or run the various Blenheim routes.

To take part call the events team on 0800 169 3672. I0t costs £23 to enter and runners must be over 17. For more information, visit bhf. org.uk/Blenheim