Father and son step out for charity run

Clifford Adams and son Kyle took part in the Subway Helping Hearts 5k run at Belfast’s Ormeau Park.

It was a particularly poignant occasion for the local duo, who were both diagnosed with the same heart condition after a death in the family.

Cliffy, 35, of Galgorm, has heart problems in his family with both his mother and uncles suffering from the illness.

It was after his mother died at the age of 66 that it was discovered he – and later his 10-year-old son Kyle - had a condition called supraventricular tachycardia, an irregular heartbeat.

Cliffy, who was off work for eight months with the heart condition, said it was a turning point for him to get fit and be active.

“I was advised not to do anything and it ended up with me putting on weight and everything, so that was the turning point,” he said.

“At its worst my heart was so irregular and started to get to dangerous levels, but it has settled down now.

“Kyle and I did a three mile run about two years ago, and we enjoyed doing the Belfast 5K.

“The doctors felt he was too young to be given lots of medication at his age, so this is a good way of keeping fit.

“This is a charity close to my heart so there is no better thing to be raising money for than research into heart disease,” added Cliffy.