A PERSONAL trainer is holding a day-long endurance event on Saturday to raise money for his friend's desperately-needed new wheelchair.

The 'Smash It for Chaz' event will feature five hours of physical challenges from 9am to 2pm, including a five kilometre run, an hour-long bootcamp, a spin class, a weight-lifting session, and boxercise.

Four spaces are still available for fitness fans who want to test their stamina and support a good cause.

To enter, participants can pay £25 or raise £50 via justgiving.

Event organiser Matt Glover is a friend of boxing fan Charlie Dawson, who is hoping to buy a new state-of-the-art wheelchair.

The 22-year-old from Moredon has outgrown the wheelchair he's had since he was a teen and wants to buy a new model which is bigger, lighter, and has off-road capabilities and power steering.

Matt said: "I met Charlie earlier this year whilst volunteering on an ability sports boxing session that runs at Scrappers gym.

"We quickly became friends as Charlie is such a laid back guy, he's always welcoming, always pleased to see you and always has a big smile in his face.

"When I heard that he and his family were raising money for a wheelchair I instantly knew that I was going to donate this year's Matt's Bootcamp charity event money to his cause.

"The event starts with a run and a bootcamp at Mouldon Hill, where Matt's Bootcamp has been running for the last two years, then to Simply Gym - kindly offered to us by general manager Becky Ford - for Spin, Bodypump and last but not least, Boxingfit, where Charlie will come along and help out."

Charlie suffers from a very rare combination of muscular disorders: paroxysmol non-kinesogenic choreoathetosis and dystonia, which cause painful involuntary full-body spasms, and ataxia, which affects his speech, balance and co-ordination.

The new wheelchair would stop Charlie being restricted to the pavement when he goes outside and ease the strain on his shoulders from pushing the chair manually.

Matt added: "The wheelchairs that the local authority give him do not suit his lifestyle as he is very active for a wheelchair user.

"He doesn't sit around all day feeling melancholy about his condition but gets off his backside as much as he can and gives back to his community.

"I have already raised nearly £500 after I did two Tough Mudders back to back and the Swindon Half-marathon."

Other events, including a fundraiser at Scrappers Gym in July, have been held to boost the total hundreds of pounds higher.

Charlie himself will be climbing the 880m-high mountain Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons later this month with a group of friends to raise even more funds.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/matthew-glover

To book a space for Saturday's sessions, call Matt on 07769 834569 or email him pt@mattgloverfitness.com