Simon Johnson, West Drive, Cleadon, will spend six days running up and down mountains in the Inner Hebrides.

The first race begins on the island Islay next month, and then the 31-year-old will be getting the ferry over to the island Jura. The run is the equivalent to six marathons.

Mr Johnson will be raising money for the charity Debra, for people suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

The marathon man is not new to challenges after completing the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara. His new challenge begins on the May 25.

He said: "The race is for six days and the longest day will cover 30 miles.

"I have being training by going to the Lake District and also running 20 to 30 miles along Hadrian's Wall.

"On these races I also have to carry my own back pack. You are completely self-sufficient – you have to carry your food, water, clothes, everything except a tent.

"On my last run I asked a fellow runner what charity he was running for. He told me about this little girl who suffered from EB. At the time I'd never heard of it and thought it was awful.

"So this year I thought I'd run for the girl but unfortunately she has passed away, so I looked up which charity helps and Debra have been doing it for a lot of years."

Mr Johnson added: "I say that every year will be my last, but I will probably be doing it again next year too."

EB is a rare genetic condition in which the skin and internal body lining blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds.

People with the more severe types of EB also have exceptionally high risk of developing skin cancers, shortening their lives
by 30 to 40 years. There is as yet no effective treatment or a cure.

The most famous sufferer was Northumberland's Jonny Kennedy, who died in 2003.