A CUMBRIAN man is taking on a 50-hour continuous journey on the London Underground to raise funds for a local charity.

Gaz Jones, 36, is originally from High Harrington and now lives in Liverpool with his family.

He is aiming to raise £1,000 for Home To Work, a Cleator Moor-based charity supporting unemployed people to gain the skills and experience they need to get back into work.

Gaz is well known for his fundraising efforts, previously completing the Great North Run and the Manchester Marathon, and is still eager to help raise much needed funds despite his own health challenges.

Throughout his 50-hour journey on the underground, Gaz Jones will navigate the bustling tunnels and stations without a break using the Tube’s 24 hour service throughout the night.

Gaz said: "I’m doing this to help a good local cause. I feel we all need to support our local communities and Home To Work’s Skills 4 You project does exactly that.

"I’ve been lucky to visit the site and see first-hand the difference they can make to people’s lives. I’m proud to be able to support them.

“The challenges I’ve done and are going to do in future are tough but pushing myself to ensure that some people from our society who haven’t had much luck or who are in a difficult place can get some support, learn new skills or just make new friends.

"How can that not be worth my time?"

The challenge began at 5am this Friday, June 28 and aims to raise £1,000. The funds will be used to purchase more equipment for use in the charity’s upcycling department, including sewing machines and materials used in upholstery.

Gaz’s mum Karen Jones is the managing director of Home To Work. Karen said: “I am so grateful to Gaz for his continued support of our charity. 

“He has challenged himself year on year to raise money to allow us to continue the work that we do.

"I very much appreciate his generosity in giving so much of his own time to this fundraising activity.”

Donations can still be made via Gaz’s Just Giving page.