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A devoted father and Manchester City supporter has vowed to get a tattoo of bitter rivals United - if he can raise £10,000 in honour of his sick son.

Mark Pinder’s only son Kirk, 12, suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - an incurable condition that eats away at the body’s muscles.

Now Mark is determined to raise £10,000 to support the charity, Duchenne Now, which supports families living with the condition.

And the 38-year-old, from Accrington, has vowed to get a tattoo of his favourite club’s fiercest rivals on his leg if he reaches his target.

(Image: MEN)

Mark said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was first told (about his son’s diagnosis). My world just fell apart."

Kirk is confined to a wheelchair, cannot lift his arms and will soon have to have steel rods inserted into his spine to keep it straight. The condition also reduces life-expectancy.

“All you can do is watch your child deteriorate in front of you. They rely on you to do everything,” Mike added.

“It’s hard. When you can’t see your child running around and playing football like other kids it really hits you.”

Determined dad Mark launched his first fundraising mission a week ago after finally coming to terms with the diagnosis, reports Manchester Evening News.

He said: “I buried my head in the sand for a couple of years to try and get my head around it, but I thought now it’s about time I did something.”

(Image: MEN)

The committed Blues supporter already has his club’s crest tattooed onto his arm - and is urging City and United fans to back his unusual fundraising idea and spread the word among fellow football supporters.

He added: “I’ve supported City since I was 14 and I’ve always had a season ticket, so it’s a big thing for me.

“But the way I’m looking at it is if my son can live with his condition, always have a smile on his face and never ever complain about the way he is, then getting this tattoo wont be a problem for me.”

All the funds raised by the campaign will go to help Duchenne Now find treatments and hopefully an eventual cure for the disease.

Mark added: “A cure might not be found in Kirk’s generation but if they find treatments for the next generation it’s a more positive outlook.”

You can support Mark and Kirk on their JustGiving page at justgiving.com/Mark-Pinder7 or text DNOW60 to 70070.