A dad-of-three from Chiswick is preparing to take on the world's toughest challenge - the Ironman World Championships.

Against the backdrop of the Hawaiian heat, Simon Oldham, is almost set for the triathlon which includes a 3,800m swim in choppy waters, followed by a 180km bike ride in winds of up to 50kmph and, to finish off, a full 26-mile marathon in stifling humidity in 30 degrees plus, on October 10.

His madness has been inspired by disability charity Scope who offered him a last minute place in the gruelling race and now he hopes to raise £35,000 through fundraising events and online donations.

The 45-year-old, who is the owner of Beaufort House Chelsea, in Kings Road, says during the race he will consume around 24 pints of water, cola and electrolytes and take on in excess of 12,000 calories (average daily consumption is 2,500) or about 14 roast lunches and stands to lose around 4kgs in weight.

Mr Oldham said: "I heard about the race when I was really just a kid and the distances just seemed so insane that anyone could do it.

"I had always wanted to do an Ironman so I undertook Ironman UK a bit on a whim because I was out of shape.

"I did not enjoy it because I had not trained enough so I entered Austria and trained hard and really loved it.

"I always dreamt of qualifying for Hawaii but I knew that the times I had to do were just out of reach so I had thought to myself that Hawaii was off the cards forever."

But it was in 2012 that an incident changed his life, when "a bunch of six-year-old kids gathered around me like sharks around a life raft and started calling me fatty, laughing and poking my belly," he added.

He took the decision to get back into shape and has never looked back since.

Mr Oldham said: "The World Championships are the pinnacle of the sport I love so it was always a dream to compete.

"If someone said to a football fan, you can play in the FA cup final for your team, it would be the same thing.

"It also gives me a chance to give something back to people who are struggling every day and for whom, even walking to the shops or down the corridor unaided is their personal dream.

"So please give generously, not to the lycra wearing mid-life crisis man but to all those who would love to lead a life that did not depend so heavily on others."

You can support Mr Oldham by donating here.