Bury St Edmunds man to embark on year-long fund-raiser

Twelve months of physical activity lie ahead for a man from Bury St Edmunds in a fund-raiser with a twist.

Josh Wright, 27, is the man behind the challenge. He hopes to raise £1,250 for My WiSH Charity which supports patients at Bury's West Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Hospital and its community services.

His first challenge will see him run two marathons across the last weekend of January.

Other gruelling activities include a 100 mile cycle for April, climbing a mountain for August and a 50k ultra marathon for October.

Mr Wright previously raised £4,500 for the charity and ran 170 miles for My WiSH Charity's Butterfly Appeal.

He said: "I had a few different ideas to fund-raise and just thought 'sod it, I'll do it all in one year'.

"A few years ago My WiSH Charity was the charity that we supported where I used to work so I just stuck with them. It all goes to the local hospitals and enhances the care there such as cancer treatment.

"I can see where the money is going as it's local."

Mr Wright trains regularly, running and attends the gym. He is most looking forward to the 24-hour video game marathon for March but is dreading the two-mile swim in September.

"At this current moment I can't really swim that well so in July, August and September I will use those months to do swimming training.

"The swim is the one that sticks out in my mind because I have no experience of it. All the others are runs, cycling, gaming - stuff I've done. But the swim will kill me right off I think."

Mr Wright will be joined by family and friends who he gives credit to for coming up with some of the ideas. He hopes to continue his fund-raising efforts even when the 12 months are up.

To donate or to find details of Mr Wright's fund-raising itinerary see here.