John Di Benedetto is not a man who does things by halves.
The former Royal Marines Commando is gearing up to take on an extreme charity fitness challenge that will see him and three pals run a marathon through Tynemouth while pulling a Land Rover.
But that's not all, the 38-year-old personal trainer will begin his challenge at 7am on Saturday, August 6, with a 10 mile run carrying a stretcher with a casualty, a 1k swim with the casualty and a 1k commando crawl on Longsands Beach before taking on the truck marathon that very same day. John will be joined by pals Neil Drew, Anthony Longstaff and Lee Morrison, in taking on the impressive feat to raise funds for Mental Health UK and the RNLI.
John, who runs personal training business, Tactical 45, is no stranger to an extreme challenge, but this time he plans on taking the effort with no training at all.
"My last challenge was the Three Peaks which I did carrying a telegraph pole," he said. "I just like to test myself now and again.
"This time I decided to do something for charity and to raise awareness for mental health. But I am not training for it so that is where the mental challenge comes in, because I think if you train for any challenge you are prepared for it.
"I was a Marine for seven years, then went offshore, and then decided to do what I love for work, by setting up Tactical 45. All my clients know that it is not just a job to me. I am more about the mental side rather than the aesthetics, it is all about feeling good and getting the job done."
He continued: "I've decided to do it just because it is tough and a mental battle. You can be the fittest bloke in the world but if you get any type of weight on you and going that distance you are just grinding and grinding and that's when you break.
"So it's just showing yourself and others that you can do things if you put your mind to it.
The dad-of-three from North Shields said hopes to see crowds turn out to cheer the team on during the challenge. "We want everyone to get behind us and support us by coming down to the beach to cheer us on," John said.
"It is not going to be easy so we need them to help push us through. We will complete it and want to raise as much money as we can for the charity."
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-Di-benedetto
READ NEXT:
- Devastation as Consett mum who underwent emergency brain tumour surgery in Turkey diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
-
Mango to open huge store inside Newcastle's Eldon Square taking over former Topshop unit
-
See inside the new Victoria's Secret store in Newcastle's Eldon Square
-
Oktoberfest to return to Newcastle for 17-day event with live music, DJs and karaoke
