Brave Steve gets ready to run

Determined Steve Chapman is training hard for a 10km run  despite suffering from a rare condition meaning he cannot sweat.

Several members of the steelworkers family have Ectodermal Dysplasia, a life-threatening symptom of which is a lack of temperature control.

And Steve admits a hot day might be the end of his hopes of finishing the Great Yorkshire Run because overheating poses a grave health danger.

His great nephew Thomas Pettigrew (11)  who also has ED  has signed up for the junior race as the pair strive to raise awareness.

Steve (52) said: “It makes life a real struggle. Its like your body’s thermostat is always not working.

“The other day I ran 4.4 miles in training. By the end I was throwing clothes off me and it took two hours to cool down.

“There are quite a few in our family who have ED. It can also affect teeth, hair and nails.

“There have been things said to Thomas, bits of name-calling, and people do stare because the condition means we look different.

“It’s not nice but we want to take this opportunity to highlight the condition so people can learn more about it.”

Steve, of Baring Road, Blackburn, was only diagnosed with the condition after suffering an injury at work in the 1990s.

There are about 84,000 cases worldwide and the family is now supported by the ED Society.

Steve said: “It made me aggressive as a youngster. I went until 1992 without knowing exactly what was different.

“I didn’t have anyone to speak to about it like there is now. My parents didn’t know what I was doing when I would lie on the lino floor to try and cool down.

“I only found out in 1992 when I got cut at work and was sent to a geneticist, who knew about the condition but had never seen it before.

“But the society puts children in contact with each other and they have a Christmas party every year.”

Steve and Thomas, who starts at Brinsworth Comprehensive School next month, were inspired to take on the run by a relative who takes part every year.

Steve said: “I don’t know if Ill be able to manage. If it’s even slightly hot on the day, I doubt it.

“But I’ve got other family members on standby. My son-in-law has said hell jump into my shoes if I need him to.”

Entry for the September 2 run is £27 for adults and £9 for under 16s. See www.greatrun.org for more.