ACTION man Chris Stanton is tackling a gruelling double iron man challenge to cycle, swim and run around Dorset in one go.

The former Weymouth man is raising money for the Action for A-T charity which was set up by the parents of a young girl with a rare genetic disorder called Ataxia Talengectasia.

Chris, pictured, will start the 281 miles challenge on Friday and continue overnight until he finishes sometime after 4pm on Saturday.

The professional actor and personal trainer will: l Swim the 4.8miles length of Bournemouth bay; l Cycle 224 miles around Dorset; l Run back 52 miles along the south west coastal path.

Chris, who now lives in Twickenham, said: “Having been brought up in Weymouth, I’m returning to my home town on an epic challenge.

“I have been raising money for Action For AT over the last couple of years, participating in other challenges – but nothing quite like this.

“I wanted to do something that people deemed ridiculous and impossible as I felt this would create greater awareness about Ataxia Talengectasia.

“Also, I felt doing a challenge that pushes my physical ability is very apt as children with AT start to lose theirs at a very young age.”

Action for A-T was set up by Emily and Toby Read following the diagnosis of the brutal childhood condition in their daughter Evie, pictured right.

Chris’s parents Neil and Val, brother Daniel and Portland ironman Eddie Ette, who designed the route, will be supporting him along the way as well as girlfriend Kerry Wingate-Pearse.

He has tackled other ironman contests but this is his toughest challenge yet.

He expects it to take about 30 hours but it all depends on the weather conditions.

Chris said he was excited about the challenge but that reality will kick in when he is running in the pitch black and cold at 2am.

Chris will be wearing a global positioning system tracker in case of emergencies but also wants friends and supporters to meet him at points along the route.

Chris added: “I am yet to have children of my own and truly admire Toby and Emily Read for what they have achieved in setting up Action For AT after Evie was diagnosed.”

Chris’s girlfriend Kerry, Toby, Emily and Evie will be among the family and friends at the finish.

Visit virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisEllis-stanton to sponsor Chris and Facebook.com/enduroman2013 to follow his progresss.

Supporters can also text ENDU90 £3 to 70070 – or any other amount they wish to contribute.

* A-T is short for Ataxia-Telangiectasia, an incurable neurodegenerative and progressive condition that starts in childhood causing severe disability and premature death.

Babies are born ‘normal’ and then slowly, from around the age of five, start to lose their independence.

A wheelchair is needed usually by the age of 10, if not before, and in many cases, a feeding tube by the age of 12.

The immune systems of children who suffer from A-T are usually compromised and so they often do not live beyond their teens, usually dying of either cancer or a severe respiratory infection.

A-T has been described as having the worst symptoms of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and cancer.