A DAD has completed a gruelling fitness challenge for charity before his first London Marathon.

New Look supply chain co-ordinator Simon Mitchell tackled a 150km challenge at Mission Fitness Gym in Weymouth, consisting of a 20km row, a 100km cycle and a 30km run.

Mr Mitchell, 32 from Weymouth, took on the fitness test on January 31 and completed the challenge in less than nine hours.

All proceeds from the event will go towards his fundraising efforts for his first London Marathon in April.

He said: “I’m trying to raise £1,850 in total and this challenge is one of many things I will be doing to raise as much money as I can, including a cake sale.

“I raised £423.52 on the day and my overall London marathon fundraising stands at over £700 now, which I am delighted with.

“I actually completed 12km more on the bike than intended, making my cycle distance 162km in total which meant a round 100 miles.

“The 30km run was last, and the last hour was physically and mentally tough because my body was drained.

“The challenge took me eight hours and 45 minutes to complete, and I actually lost 5lbs since my 7am start.

“I’m raising money for the Anthony Nolan charity because they do a fantastic job for so many people across the UK.”

Mr Mitchell has two daughters, Jasmine, 12, and Chloe, five.

He is running the marathon to fundraise for Anthony Nolan, a UK charity that works in the areas of leukaemia and stem cell transplantation.

The charity manages and recruits donors to the Anthony Nolan Register, one of just three bone marrow registers in the UK.

Mr Mitchell became inspired to help after signing up as a stem cell donor for the charity.

For more information or to donate visit virginmoneygiving .com/simonmitchell81.