A MUM from Yate is set to run 5km a day for 74 days, all while dressed as a superhero and pushing her baby son in a buggy.

Emily Spillman is set to take on this “superhuman” task to raise money for the Southmead Hospital Charity, after her son Austin was treated in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for 74 days last year after being born prematurely at 26 weeks.

The 27-year-old nurse said: “I’m not a natural runner, but I wanted to set myself a challenge to raise money for the hospital.”

“I was lucky that even though it was an extremely difficult time when Austin was in NICU, I had family nearby and a lot of support. Many parents of premature babies don’t have that.”

Already about a quarter of the way into the task, she added: “Austin comes with me in his buggy and each week he’s dressed as a different superhero. We’ve had Superman, Batman and Spiderman so far and I’ll think it will be Dangermouse next.

“My quickest 5K to date is 32 minutes, but most days I’m a bit slower than that. The buggy weighs 17 kg, so pushing that along means I’m not as fast as I could be.”

The last day of Emily’s challenge takes place on November 12, Austin’s first birthday, where friends and family will join her on the run to celebrate, but company is welcome on any run, with anyone interested being asked to contact Emily through https://www.facebook.com/superpremie/?pnref=story

To find out more about Emily’s challenge, and to sponsor her here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=superpremie