A dad training for the London Marathon created a custom-made T-shirt with a QR code for passersby to scan and donate during his training.

Darren Ryan, 56, has been running daily in his village while wearing the T-shirt.

Over six months, Darren raised £600 for a local hospice - until his son Olly Ryan, 22, posted a video on the social media app TikTok praising his dad's creative fundraising method

The video quickly went viral, amassing 1.2m views.

Donations began to pour in and within just 24 hours, Darren had raised over £9K

Darren, a content creator from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, said: "I was in tears. "

"This wasn't about me. It was about the power of kindness. "

"Strangers from all over the world donated and some even sent emotional messages of support. "

"One woman donated just £1 because she had nothing left in her bank account after paying a vet bill - that means as much to me as a £50 donation."

"It's shown me just how much love there is out there."

Darren is running the London Marathon alongside his son Callum, 24, in support of Willen Hospice.

Willen Hospice is a local establishment that provides end-of-life care.

Darren's father-in-law spent his final days there and after witnessing the excellent care the hospice provided, Darren was eager to support the cause.

The charity was stunned by the outpouring of generosity.

Darren said: "They couldn't believe it. They were refreshing the donation page constantly."

For Darren, the experience has not only transformed his fundraising efforts but also reinforced his faith in social media's power for good.

He said: "People from all over the world Australia, America and"

Poland have donated.

"It just shows there's so much love out there."

"This run isn't just for the charity anymore - it's for everyone who believed in us and donated."