A FUNDRAISING event in memory of an 11-year-old boy who died in a road crash has gone viral.

The Doing It For Dan virtual run, held in honour of Bridlewood Primary pupil Daniel Climance, has garnered support from all corners of the globe and raised more than £3,000 for road safety charity Brake.

Daniel died in June after he collided with a road-sweeper in Purton while bike riding with his father and older brother.

His story has since has travelled worldwide with generous sprinters from Brazil, New Zealand, Qatar, Dubai and Switzerland signing up in their hundreds to race in memory of the 11-year-old.

Doing It For Dan was launched by Daniel’s childhood best friend Callum Smart,11 and his mother Claire from St Andrew’s Ridge.

Claire said she had been inundated with donations since the event’s launch last week.

“I am amazed that so many people have signed up, I thought we might get 150 people at most but now we’re nearing 900, it’s phenomenal,” she said.

“It is a bittersweet moment because I wish I wasn’t doing this but I’m so chuffed that his story has touched so many people.”

Mother-of -three Claire praised the support the town had given the charity event.

“Swindon has been fantastic, we’ve had everything from a netball team in Purton offering to donate to primary schools to businesses giving us personalised t-shirts. It’s completely overwhelming,” Claire said.

“We’ve also had people sign up to do their own versions of the event, we’ve got the Dribble It For Dan football event happening, a spinathon, teachers organising runs after school and every day more and more people sign up.

“I think it will be quite emotional running for Dan. I’ve done charity runs before but I’ve never had a personal connection like this. We just want to do him proud.”

A virtual run is a race that can be held from any location with participants’ able to walk, use the treadmill, or run in another race to raise money. Doing It For Dan runners have the opportunity to do a 5k or 10k run with all ages and abilities able to sign up.

Charity Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use and effective road safety policies. They aim to completely stop road injuries and deaths.

Highworth Warneford School student Callum will don his running gear to race alongside mum Claire, dad Marcus and siblings Finley and Charlotte.

Claire said Callum had been overjoyed with the success of Doing It For Dan event.

“He’s really pleased with the progress that has been made and since it started he’s been so happy. He received his personalised t-shirt with Dan’s name on it and he kept it on all day.”

National Road Safety Week runs from November 23-29. To donate or for information on how to sign up for the virtual run visit https://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Smart10.