A NEWPORT man now living in London is hoping raise up to £1,000 by walking or running five marathons in as many days in Miami.

Thomas Shovlin, 30, originally of Langstone, will be joined with 30 colleagues from the The Breakfast Club cafe in London to take on the 131-mile challenge to raise funds for their respective charities.

Former Rougemont School pupil Mr Shovlin has opted to help the Moorfield Eye Hospital in London, having gone there since birth for a vision problem in his left eye.

Mr Shovlin, who moved to London three years ago, said: "We've also decided that as a team we'll be fundraising for Create, an amazing charity that uses the power of the creative arts to transform the lives of society's most vulnerable people by enabling them to develop creativity, learning, social skills and self-esteem."

The group fly out to the US on Monday where they walk the equivalent of a marathon a day for four days across the Florida Keys.

On the fifth day, they will run the renowned Southernmost Marathon in Key West.

"We're a mixed bunch; some of us run marathons in our sleep, others haven't done exercise in 15 years," said Mr Shovlin.

"Regardless, it's going to be the biggest physical and mental challenge any of us have ever faced. It's going to be tough, really tough.

To donate to Mr Shovlin's fundriasing campaign, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/thomasshovlinthebeast