MORE than 1,600 miles of cycling, swimming and running await a fearless fundraiser about to embark on the ultimate physical challenge.

Ulverston landlord, Paul Dewar, will today embark on his "To Hell and Back" mission when he sets off on a bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats and back down to Cumbria. After 10 days’ cycling he will swim the 10-mile length of Windermere, before the next day embarking on Brathay Trust’s 10in10 challenge. In total, his ultimate triathlon will take him 21 days.

The 50-year-old Ulverston Tri Club member said: “It‘s all going to be challenging and the swim is something I’m not looking forward to, but I am looking forward to cycling the country and seeing the different views, especially up in the north of Scotland where it’s very remote.

“I know what the 10in10 is like, having done it four years ago, and I know that will be really tough. But when I get there I’ll be joined by the whole team. That will be a big lift.”

Starting on Friday May 13, the 10in10 runners will complete the last of their 262 miles on Sunday May 22, the day of the annual Windermere Marathon and inaugural half-marathon hosted by the Ambleside-based national children and young people’s charity. 

It will be no mean feat for Mr Dewar, who recently fought back from an injury which stopped him running during training.

He said: “I‘ve not done any big endurance runs. I’ve been up to 14 miles in training without any issues or niggles and I’ve done a few consecutive days, but only up to eight or nine miles. 

“When the time comes, the fitness will be there, but it’s the pounding the leg’s going to take that will be the issue.”

Mr Dewar will push through the more painful moments thinking about the incredible support and sponsorship he has received for his charity of choice. He has already raised around £11,700 of his £16,000 target for Brathay’s new Focus on Furness initiative, which aims to reach out to those living in Barrow and the surrounding areas and equip them with the skills and confidence they need to progress.

Mr Dewar said: “I think about the stories I’ve heard from the people that the charity has helped, about the young people and what they’ve been through. Some of those stories are pretty horrific, but then they tell you about how they’ve been helped by the charity and how they’re working now, or have their own kids. You think about those sorts of stories and you think, ‘That’s why I‘m doing this’.”

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/tohellandback1600 to help take Mr Dewar one step towards reaching his £16,000 fundraising target. Visit http://www.tohellandback.co.uk to follow Mr Dewar, who will be wearing a tracking device to keep supporters up-to-date throughout the course of his challenge.