Two weeks to run 816 miles in order to raise £8,160 for charity.

Ipswich Star: Tom Boother.Tom Boother.

That is the challenge that Ipswich fundraiser Tom Boother has taken on in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The 35-year-old is today starting his journey from Land’s End in Cornwall and plans to reach John O’Groats in the far north of Scotland by May 1- averaging 59 miles per day over 12 to 14 hours.

Mr Boother is braving the ultramarathon alone but “in Forest Gump style” he is calling for people to join him along the way, for just one mile or a whole day.

“It feels a bit like my university finals, or any kind of exam, you think you should pass but you could easily fail and you could fail quite spectacularly,” said Mr Boother, who is a motivational speaker and company trainer.

“There are so many things that could go wrong that it’s almost not worth thinking about and on that basis I am quite excited.”

Mr Boother is no stranger to long distance runs having finished some of Europe’s most challenging races including The Grand Union Canal Race, The Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc and The West Highland Way Race.

For the past year Mr Boother has been preparing to run the length of the country by putting in 80 to 130 miles every week.

The other races that Mr Boother has taken on have all been non-stop runs, so two weeks ago he completed 270 miles over five days, which he said: “didn’t break me too much”.

During this latest race, Mr Boother will stop every 10 miles for a drink and every 20 miles to change his socks and ice his feet.

Supporting him on from the sidelines will be Kelly Murray from the human performance unit at the University of Essex, Charlotte Long from SportsMed East and his parents Richard and Debbie.

Mr Boother will get up at 4am every day for a 6am start, and will need to consume around 7,000 calories per day.

Marquis Motorhomes & Caravans has lent Mr Boother a mobile home with messages of support written over it to encourage people to donate to the charities on route.

He will sleep in the mobile home for four nights around Scotland, and for the rest of the time he will be staying in different Travelodges.

The former Northgate High School pupil has chosen to support Great Ormond Street because he was cared for there as child for chronic and acute eczema.

“I still use the regime they put in place for me 30 years on, so I thought I should pay them something back,” added Mr Boother, who helps lead a running club in Ipswich every Tuesday.

“I chose EACH because they are brilliant and they could do with all the help they could get.”

To follow Mr Boother’s journey or to donate, visit: www.tomslejog.co.uk