A PERSONAL fitness trainer has set himself a tough test to raise funds for the under-threat Cardigan Oxygen Therapy Centre.

David Maund, from Newcastle Emlyn, is to undertake a 12-hour gym and swim challenge at Coracles Country Club, Cenarth, on Friday, November 29.

Starting at 8am, David will do an hour’s workout in the gym, followed by an hour’s swim and then keep repeating that punishing schedule until he finishes at 8pm.

David is no stranger to tough endurance tests, having regularly set himself gruelling physical challenges over the years to raise cash for local causes.

“This will be a unique challenge which will test me both physically and mentally,” said David.

“Hopefully, it will capture the imagination a little bit and people will drop in to support me over the 12 hours.

“I popped into the Oxygen Centre to have a chat with them. It’s fantastic what they do there and so important we keep the facility going and raise awareness of what they do.

“I never realised one of my good friend’s mother goes there for treatment and it’s nice to have that close connection with the centre to help drive me on.”

David anticipates losing the best part of half a stone during the day.

“It will be nice to lose a few pounds before Christmas” he added.

“But on a more serious note, the swimming side is what I am dreading the most.

“I will be able to mix it up in the gym but you just have to keep plodding on up and down in the pool and I dread to think how many lengths I will do. It’s going to be hard.”

Cardigan Oxygen Therapy Centre, based at the Pentood Industrial Estate, is a charity which provides hyperbaric therapy for adults and children in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

Illnesses that benefit include MS, autism, cerebral palsy, MND, rheumatoid arthritis and many others, as well as fractures and tissue damage.

To donate to David’s fund-raising effort, go to Justgiving.com/fundraising/12hourgymswim