A GRATEFUL dad will run the London Marathon to help a children’s hospital where his newly-born daughter received life-saving open heart surgery.

Rob Molloy is taking on the 26.2-mile challenge for the Evelina Children’s Hospital, at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

His daughter Flossie was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect called transposition of the great arteries when her mother, Sophie, was 20 weeks pregnant.

The condition prevented oxygenated blood flowing around Flossie’s body, and she was blue when she was born in April last year.

After nearly two weeks in intensive care, Flossie was then strong enough to undergo six hours of open heart surgery.

During the operation, her heart was taken out and two major arteries were moved to get oxygenated blood pumped around her body.

Rob, 36, said: “That was probably the hardest and most stressful time in the process.

“She went into the operating theatre at 8am and came out at 2pm. All we could do was to pace the streets around St Thomas’ and Waterloo.”

The operation was a success, and five days later Flossie was allowed to go back to the family home in Wheelers Hill, Hook.

Mr Molloy, an executive producer for Guinness World Records, made a video using photos taken from Flossie’s birth, and it has already had nearly 3,000 views on YouTube when The Gazette went to press.

He said: “It is all about trying to raise as much money as possible for the children’s hospital. Anyone who has any doubts about the NHS should see how good they are when they are caring for a sick child.”

To sponsor Rob, visit uk.virginmoney giving.com/RobMolloy.