TWO overweight former Navy submariners have decided to get trim by setting off on an extraordinary journey.

Barry Bishop and best friend Steve Mills, 40, were never interested in signing up at the gym.

That is until they set themselves the challenge of cycling almost 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

In fact, the pair decided that wasn’t quite enough for two unfit men in their 40s, so they also decided to run a marathon and swim the channel as well, all in the same year.

They hope to raise £50,000 for three charities, Help For Heroes, NSPCC and Make a Wish Foundation.

Mr Bishop, 41, of Fax Lane, Middle Barton, near Bicester, met 40-year-old Mr Mills when they both joined the Navy on the same day aged 16, where both served for more than 12 years.

Mr Bishop, who works for a German bank, said: “We wanted to get fit – we are ordinary guys, not athletes – but nothing happened.

“Then, before Christmas, Steve called up and said let’s cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raise some money. I said if we are going to do it, let’s make some impact and that’s when the other two events came on.

“I now get up every morning at 5.30am and I’m in the gym from 6.30am to 8.30am.

“I have a cycle in Germany and one at home and run every day.”

He said swimming was his strongest part in the challenge as he had represented the sea cadets in competitions when he was a teenager.

The pair hope to team up with a group at Oxford University to train and complete the channel challenge.

Father-of-two Barry weighs 17 stone but said the target was not weight loss.

He said: “It’s about raising money for three charities. The fact we are losing weight in the process is okay.

“We are ordinary guys and we are doing something extraordinary which means every person I know should give me a tenner.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that we are doing it and have been amazed at the response of people already.

“For the cycling part we have to do 100 miles a day and as soon as we get off our bikes we go to Poland for the marathon. I’m excited, I’m nervous but I can’t wait.”

Steve, who works for a specialist communications firm that supports the military, weighs in at just over 17 stones.

As well as sponsorship the pair have a host of prizes to auction, including a pass to visit Renault Formula One team’s HQ in Enstone, aerobatic flights with Blades – a flying school set up by former members of the Red Arrows, and speedway memorabilia.

To sponsor them, go to twofatsubmariners.com