TOP Ivybridge athete and personal trainer Fin Saunders is to take on an incredible challenge to raise money for the charities supporting his dad through a battle with bone marrow cancer.

On September 29 at 6pm, Fin will be at McCaulays gym in Ivybridge to start what he is calling a 24-hour non-stop solo sprint triathlon.

Fin will begin by swimming 750 metres, before getting on his bike which will be set up statically in the gym and cycling 20 kilometres, then running 5km on a treadmill. And when he finishes, he will repeat the cycle, over and over again until 6pm the following day, 24 hours later - with no sleep and only essential breaks.

Fin admits the challenge will not be easy, but he hopes its severity will persuade people to be extra generous in their giving. He is raising money for three charities: Myeloma UK; the Exeter Leukemia Fund; and North Devon Hospice.

Fin’s father was diagnosed with myeloma earlier this year, and has undergone chemotherapy and stem cell repair to fight the disease. He receives lots of help from the three charities, and Fin says after an initial period of shock when he felt helpless, he realised he could help his dad - by raising money for them.

He said: ’As soon as my head cleared and I stopped getting angry, I figured it out. I can help, I can help the people that are helping my dad continue to help other families by raising money for them.

’So I thought: what do I love to do, I train all the time for triathlon, but that’s easy, no-one will sponsor me for that and I need to get a lot of funds for these amazing people.’ And so the 24-hour non-stop solo triathlon was born.

Fin explained the help his parents are getting from the charities. He said: ’They stay in a flat run by the hospice at a very cheap price, with taxis etc all for them. All this help he is getting and people he can talk to is amazing. The local hospice is North Devon hospice in Barnstaple where he can just go and have a chat to people and my mum can go and get support, it truly is a lifesaver in many ways.’

He added: ’This is the only thing I can do to help, and its nothing compared to what my Dad has done for me over the years.’

To support Fin, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/finsaunders