RUNNERS across six continents and countries as far flung as Qatar and New Zealand dug deep this week and have raised more than £11,000 in memory of schoolboy Dan Climance.

As part of National Road Safety Week, the Doing It For Dan campaign has snowballed across the world and brought in thousands for the road safety charity, Brake.

Eleven-year-old Daniel died in June while cycling through Purton, after collision with a road-sweeper.

Keen to keep his memory alive, Claire Smart, the mother of Dan’s best friend Callum, launched a virtual run so people could do something to honour the former Bridlewood Primary School pupil.

Now, with more than 1,000 people taking part from every continent except Antarctica, Claire said she has been overwhelmed by the love and support shown by both the Swindon community and total strangers.

“We specifically chose Road Safety Week for a reason, and we have so many various teams taking part, including local football teams, running clubs and schools who have gone out of their way to do something specially for Dan,” she said.

“It’s wonderful the response we have had, and they have raised so much money.

"I never imagined how things were going to snowball, and as it stands we have 1,061 people pledging their support.

“There are probably hundreds of kids in addition to that who might not be on social media.

Local schools are taking part and doing their own Do It For Dan runs in their PE lessons.

“It’s not just been running, people have been doing swims, gym sessions, anything they feel comfortable with just to pitch in.

"I think we have got every continent covered apart from Antarctica, and that was the tricky one to break.

"I have no idea how that happened, but I am so grateful to everyone.

“Some people doing it in the more obscure countries seem to have no connection, but they have seen the story and wanted to get involved.”

Groups whicho have got involved include Royal Wootton Bassett Hounds, Arval, Shin Splints, and RunSwindon ladies, to name a few.

Dan’s mother Helen Lucas joined the hundreds Doing It For Dan at the Arval 5k last Tuesday, and his best friend Callum also ran the distance at the Swindon Park Run on Saturday.

“Callum is really chuffed,” Claire said. “On Sunday we wanted to get everybody together at the Sun Inn to say thank you, and they have been amazing.

"Then it will be a more relaxed lap or two of Coate Water to round the week off.

“When I set this up, I wasn’t really thinking about the fundraising. I just wanted to do something in memory of Daniel, because I wanted everyone to know what a wonderful lad he was and what a good friend he had been to Callum.

“He went so suddenly it was a complete shock.

“The response to that has been people wanting to give some money, and Brake was easy to choose.

They are over the moon that we have hit more than £11,000 so far, because they are only a small charity who operate out of a little office in Huddersfield.

“I feel like now my mission is done, and people have done it for Dan. I was in Asda the other day wearing the t-shirt, and some woman came up to me saying she had just done her event. It has really reached people, and Swindon have been brilliant.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Claire-Smart10.