THE story of Forrest Gump has moved from the big screen and on to the roads of Great Britain in memory of one brave little boy.

Civil servant Ewan Gordon is in the midst of running 837 miles from John O’ Groats in the Highlands to Land’s End, the most southerly point of Great Britain.

The 42-year-old, of Brashfield Road, Bicester, is doing it all dressed as Forrest Gump and in honour of nine-year-old Thomas Laurie.

Thomas passed away last year following a battle with Cockayne Syndrome – a rare genetic condition that causes premature ageing.

Talking to the the Oxford Mail while making his way down the A6, Mr Gordon said: “It all started about five years ago when I met Cath and Richard Laurie at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Causeway. Through them I met their children Ellie and Thomas. I thought he was a very special but very ill little boy.

“From about that time I started marathon running and wanted to encourage other people to take on sports in Tom’s name because he was still with us then.

“We now have a whole campaign of people that run in Tom’s name. He was just full of life and he is a very well-known little boy in Bicester.”

Writing on his Just Giving page the civil servant adds: “Like Forrest Gump, I run because I feel the need to and I will stop when my work is done, I will stop when they find a cure to Cockayne Syndrome.”

So far nearly £3,000 has been pledged through the run, which would take around 15 hours to drive.

Money raised will go towards the charities that helped Thomas and his family before he died on February 19 at Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House hospice.

Along with the Magdalen Road hospice in Oxford, other charities include Merseyside-based Amy and Friends, Lifelites, which donates electronic equipment to hospices, and Rosy (Respite nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters), based in Kidlington.

Mr Gordon is around the halfway point after just over 20 days running and has been surviving on mostly cooked breakfasts, Snickers and Lucozade.

He said: “I have had a lot of Run Forrest Runs and some people stop me for a chat, you really do meet the great and the good.

“You go through the hard bit for the first few weeks of blisters but your body actually gets used to it.”

The Amy and Friends Charity hosted a halfway party for the runner, his family and friends on Monday as they met him in Wallasey, Merseyside.

Thomas’ mum, Cath Laurie, 43, who lives with husband Richard, 46, and daughter Ellie, 13, in Langford Village said: “He has been absolutely phenomenal. He has been trying to raise money for the charities helping us and since Thomas’ death last year he has really stepped it up.

“He is doing a brilliant job, we could not be prouder of him and Thomas for inspiring him too. Thomas was a little nine-year-old boy and to have all these people inspired by him is amazing.”

The Forrest Gump runner is aiming to finish up in Lands End on Sunday, June 14.