Chippenham man Chris Maxwell is planning to mark his 40th birthday by undertaking an arduous challenge.

Mr Maxwell, of Kington St Michael, has challenged himself to swim 4km, cycle 400km and run 40km in 40 hours over the weekend of January 11 and 12.

Mr Maxwell is a runner with Chippenham Harriers and a member of Chippenham Wheelers but admits it will be a tough ask.

He is doing the challenge in memory of his mother, Lorna, and is raising money for the charity, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

His mother, who died last year aged 64, had limb girdle muscular dystrophy but did not let it get in her way and was an inspiration, he said.

Mr Maxwell, who is married with three children, said: “My mum defied muscular dystrophy to enjoy her life although it was a real struggle for her. There are different forms of muscular dystrophy. She was born with it and when I was about 18 she was in a wheelchair.

“She was incredibly determined not to let it get in her way. She tried to get the best out of her life. My sister is also a keen runner and mum took great pleasure in watching her children during sporting events and enjoyed what we could achieve.”

His mother lived in Yeovil and was a season ticket holder at its football club.

Mr Maxwell, who will be 40 the day before the challenge, has already beaten his initial target to raise £400 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and now aims to raise £1,000. The charity funds research, provides free information and support and gives grants towards equipment.

Mr Maxwell, a risk manager with Catalent in Swin-don, has done an Ironman triathlon once before and ran the London Marathon in 1999 in a time of two and a half hours. He has also competed for Great Britain in duathlon in the 35-39 age group.

He plans to do the swim at the Olympiad in Chippen-ham, the cycle ride on a couple of loops out towards Devizes, Avebury, Cherhill, Wootton Bassett, Brinkworth and the Cotswold Water Park and the run around Chippen-ham in loops.

He is concerned about the temperature. “Who knows what the weather will throw at me?” he said. “ Even if it is not snowing you can get very cold quite quickly in January. I’m confident I can do it as long as the weather doesn’t hinder me too much.”

Mr Maxwell has an online site for donations.Go to http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-Maxwell1