Ten is the magic number for a fundraising organiser who set himself a monster mission to raise money for charity. 

Matt Smith, head of fundraising at Weldmar Hospicecare, marked 10 years working for the charity by completing a ‘Colossal 10’ challenge at the weekend. 

He set himself the task of completing 10 monumental challenges to raise money and awareness for the charity.

Starting in February this year, Matt’s mission took him not just all over the UK, but around the world as he took part in a skydive, wing walking, the London Marathon, the Three Peaks Challenge, a one-mile swim and a shop-to-shop cycle across Dorset. 

On top of this, Matt abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, snorkelled with sharks in Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park and even travelled to Borneo for a demanding jungle challenge.

The huge nine-month challenge culminated in a very special event at the place where it all began.

On Sunday, budding dancers were offered the chance to shake their stuff at a 10-hour ‘danceathon’ at the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester

Starting at 9am, people flocked to the building to get moving and raise money for a good cause. 

Matt said: “The difference is with something like a trek or a running event you can prepare, but you just can’t prepare for something like this. 

“We chose to hold it here because this is where the money is going and its good motivation for the team. We just want to raise as much money as we can.”

Sandra Smith, Matt’s mum, was determined to do the whole 10 hours of the danceathon in support of Weldmar.

She said: “I have supported him through all his challenges.

“Weldmar is close to our hearts because they looked after family members here.”

A finale evening will be held at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester on Saturday, November 18, where Matt will mark the end of his Colossal 10 challenge and announce the total amount raised.