A BARROW engineer is marking his 30th by taking on 30 gruelling physical challenges which push his body to the limit.

Tom Quinn has so far hiked to the base camp of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, kayaked the length of Windermere, and completed two Total Warriors on two consecutive days.

But he is only half way there.

July to December features 14 more gruelling tests and trials for Mr Quinn, including coast to coast cycle rides in England and Scotland, a one-day hike that takes in Skiddaw (3,054ft), Scafell (3,164ft), Scafell Pike (3,208ft), and Helvellyn (3,112ft), and plenty of 'rat races'.

The whole idea started as a jovial suggestion to do something different for his 30th.

Challenge accepted

Mr Quinn, who works at NW Total Engineered Solutions in Andrews Way, Barrow, said: "It started as a bit of a joke in the office.

"I wanted to do something for my 30th and I was thinking: 'how can I go one better?'

"I thought trying 30 challenges. It progressed from there. The office thought it might be eating challenges and things like that.

"I did a couple of marathons previously so thought I'd push myself."

The fitness fanatic turned 30 on April 8 and says he had something of a "quiet one" for his birthday, due to participating in the Manchester Marathon just two days later.

The motivation for the phenomenal effort is to raise money for St Mary's Hospice and Cancer Research UK, and so far sponsors have pledged almost £700.

You can sponsor Mr Quinn's '30 challenges for turning 30 challenge' here .

Busy schedule

Some of Mr Quinn's most recent challenges have included the Great North Swim and the Coniston Triathlon.

He said: "It's been pretty tough going since the end of April with just one week off.

"I had a big one this month. I was struggling to sleep the last couple of days before it. It was a rat race from Carlisle to Newcastle along Hadrian’s Wall."

A 15-day trip to the Himalayas has also been a highlight of the year so far and saw Mr Quinn climb 5,500m to Kala Patthar while facing windchill temperatures of -32C.

He said: "I was lucky and didn’t suffer from altitude sickness but struggled with breathing from around 3,000m."

You can follow the challenge throughout the year on the Instagram page #thirtychallengesforturningthirty.

30 challenges for turning 30

Click on the links for reports on local events.

1. Everest Base Camp - January 3

2. Oulton Park Half Marathon - February 28

3. Coniston 14 - March 19

4. Brathay Belter Sportive Cycle Ride - March 20

5. Kayak the length of Windermere - April 2

6. Manchester Marathon - April 10

7. Cumbrian Way - April 29

8. London to Paris Bike Ride - May 13

9. Brathay Marathon - May 22

10. Via Ferrata Extreme at Honister Slate Mine - May 29

11. Yorkshire Three Peaks - June 4

12. Triathlon Coniston - June 11

13. Great North Swim - June 12

14. The Wall Rat Race - June 18

15. Total Warrior Leeds - June 25

16. Total Warrior Leeds - June 26

17. Barrow to Manchester Bike Ride - July 2

18. Man v Lakes Rat Race - July 9

19. Three Lakes Kayak Challenge - July 16

20. Three National Peaks Challenge - July 23

21. Quinny's Quadrathlon - July 30

22. Lake District 3000 - August 13

23. Walney to Whitby Bike Ride - August 26

24. Way of the Roses Bike Ride – August 28

25. Man v Mountain Rat Race - September 3

26. Coast to Coast Scotland Rat Race - September 10

27. Skydive – date to be decided

28. Kayak around Walney – date to be decided

29. Men's Health Survival of the Fittest Manchester Rat Race - October 29

30. John O'Groats to Lands' End Cycle Ride - date to be decided