Athlete completes 290-mile Arch 2 Arc challenge

An extreme athlete has become only the 63rd person to complete the Enduroman Arch 2 Arc challenge, raising more than £21,000 for a muscular dystrophy charity.

Sam Weale, from Herefordshire, swam, ran and cycled 290 miles (466km) from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris over three days, finishing in the French capital on Thursday.

The 44-year-old was raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK for Will Taylor, the son of a friend who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Mr Weale credited good weather on the challenge, which saw him run 87 miles (140km) from London to Dover, swim 22 miles (35km) across the Channel and cycle from Calais to Paris over 181miles (290 km).

Will, 15, was diagnosed with DMD at the age of four, and over the years his family have also raised thousands to give back to the charity that has supported him.

Mr Weale said the challenge "has been in my sights for a lot of years".

"It was always going to be a personal goal, but having met Will and the Taylors two or three years ago, I thought that I need to do this for a charity and what better way than for them," he said.

Sam Weale became only the 63rd person to complete the challenge

Mr Weale met Will's dad, Sam, while taking on another extreme challenge to swim across Windermere.

After meeting his family, he said he was inspired by their constant effort to give back to Muscular Dystrophy UK.

'Tirelessly raise money'

"Will and the family are just such inspirations," he said.

"They tirelessly raise money to help the charity and it just inspired me to help in whatever way I could.

"I didn't imagine we'd get anywhere near the total we've got today."

Mr Weale set out to raise £10,000 for the charity, but has raised more than £21,000 as of Friday.

"It's just amazing," he said.

"I put out a very distant dream goal of £10k thinking we wouldn't get there, but it's just amazing to get what we have."