Ref. 75650-122TRAIN driver Martin Davis is aiming to run three marathons in 14 days to raise money for charity.

The 30-year-old, of Kingshill, Swindon, will travel to Lisbon, Paris and London in a bid to raise funds for Cancer Research and Asthma UK and now he's calling on the people of Swindon to support him.

Martin said: "I really hope people will get behind me and help out.

"I've been training for the last year for it but the hard part will be the short time between each race.

"I should have the mileage in my legs but I'm just hoping I will be able to recover in between each race.

"I want to do the first one in under three hours but after that the time won't be my main concern.

"When it comes to the last one I might just do it in fancy dress.

With the Lisbon marathon up first on April 3 then Paris on April 10 and London on April 17, Martin is in for a gruelling two weeks.

He said: "I know it won't be easy and I've even had people say to me I won't be able to do it but hopefully I'll prove them wrong.

"I've had to take a week off work for when I get back so that I'll be able to recover."

As a member of the Swin-don Trident's running club Martin is dedicated to his sport.

But it was not always this way.

Three years ago he had piled on the weight until he reached 16 stone as his job involved sitting at the engine controls for most of his shift.

But, within weeks of going out on his first run, the weight had started to drop off.

For fun, he tried the Calne 10k race and enjoyed it so much that he has since competed in the London Mara-thon three times.

Martin said: "My best time came last year when I did it in three hours and 31 seconds.

"People are always surprised when I tell them about the weight but to be honest as soon as I started running it was easy.

"People think it's a big deal and they always go on about it.

"But it just came off in weeks once I was running.

"I'm lucky because I've found something I enjoy and I can pretty much eat what I want now."

To sponsor Martin on his triple marathon challenge call him on 07900 131829 or email him at martin.davis17-@btopenworld.com.

While Martin's task may seem impossible, in 2003 the British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, then 59, completed seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.