CHARITY champion Ray Collins is plotting his next extreme challenge after walking 80 miles in 24 hours last summer and raising more than £6,000.

The 41-year-old from Wantage has completed six end-urance tests in the past six years and raised more than £25,000 for local charities.

Now he is planning to work out in the gym for 24 hours straight on Friday, June 3.

Mr Collins has previously completed an Iron Man race – comprised of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride topped off with a 26.2-mile run – and a quadruple triathlon to raise cash for charities.

These include Diabetes UK, Oxford Children’s Hospital, Fitzwaryn School, which teaches children with special needs, Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House hospice for young people, dementia day centre The October Club and Grove and Wantage day centre.

This year, the manager of audio visual and domestic appliances specialist PB Ledbury’s, in Newbury Street, will tackle 35 cardio machines such as treadmills, rowing machines and 15 weights machines.

And the fitness fanatic has already started training.

He will be raising money to fund cancer care nurses in the town, a disability ambulance for Fitzwaryn School and Charlton Day Centre.

Mr Collins, of Springfield Road, said: “Through my time at the gym I developed the fitness to do it and I just enjoy a challenge. And when people say I cannot do something I want to show them that I can.

“It is great to help local people too and that is really the desire behind it.

“But I get a strange sense of enjoyment out of it all. I am not looking for medals – I just really enjoy it.”

In October last year, Mr Collins and friends decorated three day centres using the money he raised after his 80-mile walk.

Town councillor Patrick O’Leary said: “I have known Ray for some time and his unstinting contribution to Wantage is to be whole heartedly supported.

“His support for the community over many years is never ending and he is to be applauded for that.”

The challenge will take place at TFD Health and Fitness in Grove Technology Park.

There will also be a charity challenge day at the gym on Saturday, June 4, including a three-hour latin fusion dance class to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Help For Heroes.

Other gym members will also be attempting personal challenges.

Mr Collins can be sponsored by dropping into PB Ledbury’s or TFD Health and Fitness Club.