SOMETIMES you have to think outside the box when doing charity challenges – but dad-of-three Tim Matthews isn’t.

Today, at 7.30am, the 48-year-old will step inside a glass box where he will stay for the next 38 hours suspended 30ft in the air above a car park.

Mr Matthews, from Piddington, near Bicester, who is 6ft tall, will not take any breaks or use facilities outside the box, which has a floor area measuring just 4ft x 4ft.

His daring feat mirrors that of illusionist David Blaine who was suspended in a glass box for 44 days next to the River Thames, in 2003.

Mr Matthews will be in the box with only the clothes he is wearing and a cordless microphone.

He said: “I’ve run the London Marathon, climbed Kilimanjaro and completed a driving challenge to Africa and back in the last couple of years, but I wanted to do something that people said wasn’t possible.

“I was inspired for this challenge by David Blaine’s feats of mental strength and physical endurance.

“I’ll have no pillows, no sleeping bag, nothing, just me in a box. It will be hardcore.

“I’m hoping it will really catch people’s imagination and people will come and see me.” Mr Matthews said his diet will be restricted in the days leading up to the challenge and he will drink only water while he is in the box.

He hopes the challenge will raise £10,000 for charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Mr Matthews, who is married to Sophie, said: “I have no idea what it’s going to be like, it’s a proper challenge.

“I don’t like sitting on a plane in a confined space and I accept I won’t be able to walk around as the crane will swing when I move.

“I think there will be quite a lot of boredom as I’m quite active and I won’t be able to be active.

“Physically I’m going to be quite constrained, but mentally I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Mr Matthews will be suspended above Wickes car park , at Cambridge Close Retail Park, Aylesbury, where he works.

He said: “From the charity’s point of view this won’t be a record year. They are finding it difficult.

“So I did think I’ve got to do something that catches the imagination. I think people will say ‘wow, that’s hard, I can’t do that’.”

To sponsor Mr Matthews view www.justgiving.com/Tim-Matthews