A TRAIN driver is on track to take part in the Basingstoke Half-Marathon in a bid to help a colleague whose daughter suffered serious injuries in a car crash.

Mark Butler will line up for the annual 13.1-mile run on October 5 representing Team Pru, in support of Lieutenant Pru Ellwood.

In December 2011, Lt Ellwood was driving from her family home in Basingstoke to North Luffenham, where she was serving in the Army, when her car came off the A1 near Peterborough and hit a tree.

The 26-year-old suffered serious head injuries in the crash and, despite three years of treatment, she requires support around the clock and is unable to communicate with her family.

For the first time since her crash, her family, of Cowslip Bank, Lychpit, are preparing to bring her home for short breaks from a care home near London.

Her dad Ian Ellwood, 50, said: “We have had no communication since she fell out of that car on that morning, so we just need to speak to her, communicate with her, and find out if she is okay. Having her at home, she might snap out of it and respond in some way.”

Before they bring her back home, Mr Ellwood and his wife Suzie need to adapt their home and buy specialist equipment.

Mr Butler, who works with Mr Ellwood at South West Trains, has so fair raised more than £1,000 for the family in sponsorship for the run.

The 32-year-old, of St Joseph’s Crescent, Chineham, has lost a remarkable 7.5 stone since the beginning of the year, by running and changing his diet.

He said: “Pru has often been in the thoughts of my wife and I. When I realised I could put my weight loss into helping Ian and his family, it was an amazing thing to be able to do.”

Mr Ellwood said: “It’s overwhelming. Mark has been so kind and everyone supporting him have been fantastic.”

To donate to Mr Butler’s fundraising effort, visit facebook.com/teampru.