Iron man to swim, row, run and cycle 4,000km

8:55am Saturday 30th December 2006

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FRESH plans have been made by intrepid Gus McKechnie to run, cycle, swim and row more than four million metres in memory of his brother.

Mr McKechnie, from Dorchester, had hoped to complete the gruelling challenge this year, but illness and injury meant he had to postpone it.

Now he is joining forces with pals for the task, which he hopes will help to raise £20,000 for charity.

Mr McKechnie launched the challenge in memory of his brother Andrew, who died in 2003 from the genetic condition haemachromatosis - a genetic condition which causes the blood to produce too much iron and leads to organ failure.

Mr McKechnie also has the same condition and at 31 is the same age now as when his brother was told he was terminally ill.

But despite the threat of the condition Mr McKechnie is determined to complete the challenge and with the help of team mates under the name Bombay Duck - his brother's favourite food - hopes to:

• Cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats and back, across the south and then the first stage of the 2007 Tour de France.

• Run, cycle, row and sail around the Isle of Wight.

• Indoor rowing marathons.

• A half-triathlon and the full UK Ironman triathlon.

• The Boston rowing marathon in Lincolnshire.

• And - if the money can be raised - the New York Marathon.

"We had setbacks in 2006 but we are determined to make the distance this time. The year had some great achievements though," said Mr McKechnie.

"I managed to run the New York and London Marathon. In the London Marathon I was part of a team that helped Sir Steve Redgrave book a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the most amount of money raised for a marathon."

Forty per cent of the money is going to cancer charities.

He added: "One of the most important points though is that I am now 31, the same age as my brother was when he was told he was terminally ill.

"The message this year is that anyone can fight to control their own fate and make the best of their time when preparing to encounter the worst."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the charity challenge is urged to visit the website www.bombayduck.org