A TEENAGER who has a chronic and incurable condition has completed a 140-mile run.

Matthew Gough has interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic inflammation of the bladder, but he did not let that stop him completing his charity run to raise money for research and awareness of the condition.

It took the 19-year-old just seven days to run from Whitehaven to Tynemouth – a challenge which has seen him raise more than £1,000 for the Bladder and Bowl Foundation to aid research into IC despite only setting a fundraising target of £500.

“The run went really well. The fourth and fifth day were the hardest over the Pennines as I was reaching peaks of nearly 2,000ft,” he said “The drive that kept me going was the desire to make a difference to inspire others to push themselves to achieve great things and of course to raise awareness and donations.

“Having IC did affect the run -– without going into much detail regular bathroom breaks were needed even when there wasn’t much in the way of toilet facilities nearby.”

Mathew was diagnosed a year ago and now attends the Hanover Centre at Leigh Infirmary every week to treat the relatively unknown condition.

He is currently studying sports psychology at UCLAN.

Matthew, from Tarnway, Lowton, said: “It feels incredible. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received and I plan on completing further challenges for other charities.

“I would like to ask the Leigh public to send there suggestions for challenges I should do and the charities I should do it for you.”

Tell Matthew what you think he should do next by tweeting @MatthewGough8 or email matthewgough13@gmail.com.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/MattsCoast2CoastChallenge/.