A grandfather from Clapham Junction is challenging himself to lift 300 tonnes during eight hours for charity.

Carl Self, who works as a caretaker, is completing the challenge to raise money for the Rainbow Trust.

The charity supports families who have a child up 18-years-old with a life threatening or terminal illness and are in need of support.

Carl, 58, says he has been training 6 days a week since December and has already raised more than £3,000 in sponsorship.

A former Olympic weight lifter at junior level, he competed in competitions in countries such as France and Belgium from aged 19 till he was 23. He was ranked ranked sixth best in the country at junior level.

Carl, who has six children and ten grandchildren, decided to do the challenge to help families who aren’t as fortunate as his and selected the Rainbow Trust because it is locally based in Leatherhead and helps children and their families in the area.

The charity have backed Carl’s fundraising campaign and will be sending a representative to watch him complete the challenge.

Oonagh Goodman, Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Rainbow Trust said, “What an incredible challenge Carl has set himself to raise funds to help families with a seriously ill child. Rainbow Trust is so grateful to Carl for taking on this mammoth task and for already raising over £3,000 with further collections planned on the day. His impressive fundraising will help us support families and help them make the most of the time they have together.”

The 300 tones is the equivalent 43 double decker buses or 50 African Bull elephants.

This is how the challenge will work:

Carl will bench press lying down, completing 115 sets of 10 with 60 kilos

For the leg press he will complete 115 sets of 10 x 202 kilos.

In total, he will lift 300 tonnes over the 8 hours.

There will be no rests during the eight hours, with Carl continuing to alternate between the bench press and the leg press.

Carl said: “I will be training lightly next week leading up to the day. Although I’m confident, it isn’t a gimmick by a long shot but I believe the training and preparation I’ve done for the last 4 months will make me victorious.”

The challenge will take place on Saturday, March 24 at Nuffield Gym, Battersea. The event is open for anyone to watch and The Latchmere pub on Battersea Park Road will be used as a base for supporters on the day.

To donate money to Carl Self’s challenge, visit his fundraising page