FUNDRAISER Matt Cordas wants to travel to Rome for the final leg of his charity challenge which will have seen him run 5.64km every day this year.

Matt, 19, who lives in Lydiard Millicent, will have ran 2,000km in aid of The St James’s Place Foundation which helps children and young people with disabilities and illnesses.

Matt works for St James’s Place Wealth Management, in Cirencester, whose base is around 2,000km from Rome.

Matt said: “I think going to Rome to finish it off would be a fitting finale and I’m looking at going out there on December 30 to do the run on New Year’s Eve.

“I have been running 118 days straight now and at first it was a bit of a shock to the system but I have got used to it.

“I picked up running last year, after doing the Swindon Half Marathon, and I thought this would be a good way to support a worthy cause.

“I’m pleased to support the St James’s Place Foundation as they do a lot of work and they make a big difference to young people’s lives.”

Originally, Matt, who lives with his parents Louise and Karl and his brother Luke, 17, had set himself a £2,014 fundraising goal, which he smashed earlier this month. He now wants to raise £5,000 for the charity with his total currently standing at £2,140.

Matt said: “I was so happy to beat the target a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been overwhelmed by the interest in the challenge as it snowballed very quickly with donations.

“I’d like to thank family, friends and work colleagues for supporting me.”

Matt does his runs in the morning, in the gym or at lunchtime and has seen his time for completing 5.64km reduce from 28 minutes to 24 minutes.

Next year, he wants to continue his fundraising, in support of St James’s Place Foundation, running the London and Berlin marathons.

He said: “I always like to set myself challenges and it would be good to do something a bit different.

“I’ve really enjoyed doing this although I am looking forward to finishing on New Year’s Eve.”