Grandfather Lionel ready for mammoth triathlon challenge

With his 65th birthday fast approaching, he is far from slowing down in his retirement, and has instead set himself the challenge of swimming 65 lengths , running 65 stadium laps, and cycling 65 miles in less than 6.5 hours on July 1.

His mammoth mission, which he called '65 Challenge' was originally in a bid to raise £650 for The Brain Tumour Charity, after losing his wife Linda five years ago to the devastating disease.

But he smashed his target within weeks and is fast on the way to raising £2,000.

The retired sales manager from Tettenhall said he hoped his late wife would be 'proud' at the amount of money he had raised for charity.

Lionel said: "She would be proud of me for raising awareness. But she'd probably think I was mad for doing this.

"I'm determined to do it though. I know I'll do it, even if I have to run myself into the ground.

"People, especially young people, think 65 is ancient. When I was young I thought 45 was old, let alone 65. But that's obviously not the case now, we are living longer, living healthier."

Lionel, a part-time lifeguard at Central Baths, is no stranger to exercise. He runs and swims at least three times a week and in the past has competed in nine marathons and three Iron Man Triathlon challenges, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon - a 26.22-mile run - raced without a break.

On July 1 Lionel will start by swimming 65 lengths - just less than a mile - at Central Baths, cycling 65 miles through the Staffordshire countryside, and then finishing by running 65 laps of Aldersley Stadium - just more than 16 miles.

He added: "I was over the moon when I hit my £650 target. The support I have received is just tremendous. I have people joining the swim with me, some say they will do the cycle, and my daughter is doing the full run with me at the end. I have a twin brother and my two nephews, his sons, are coming from London and Sydney to join me in the whole challenge.

"WM Active have been so kind to let me use the pool and stadium, and people have come forward to help with things I can't do like count laps while I'm running. It's very humbling."

Lionel was married to Linda for 38 years when she died after battling a brain tumour for 13 months. They have two daughters Lucy and Rebecca, and two grandchildren; Kate, age 19, and six-year-old George.

The grandfather, who turns 65 on August 14, is now at the final hurdle of his challenge, trying to raise the last £500 to reach £2,000.

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LIONEL.SPITTLE to donate to his page.