A CIRENCESTER teenager has completed one quarter of a year-long challenge that will see him run more than five kilometres every single day all in the name of charity.

Cirencester College student Matt Cordas has ran at least 5.64km every day since New Year’s Day and he vows to continue doing so right up until New Year’s Eve in nine months time.

Over the course of the 12 months, the 19-year-old will run around 2,000 kilometres – the equivalent distance from Cirencester to Rome.

Having been running daily for three months, Matt has already started on his second pair of running shoes.

He said: “Three months in and I am definitely finding it easier. I do several of the runs in the morning and so waking up at the start was a killer but I’m starting to get used to it now.

“My muscles are bearing up and my speed is also picking up too. I can run the set distance almost four minutes quicker than the first day I started.”

Matt, who is currently enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme at St James’s Place, is hoping to raise £2,014 for the wealth-management firm’s own charity.

The St James’s Place Foundation supports hundreds of projects that benefit children and young people.

“I picked this charity because they make a real and true difference to the lives of young people like me,” Matt said.

“You see the donations going to real people living real and inspiring lives. And for each pound that is donated, it will be matched by the company.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Matt can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/matt-cordas-365days or texting RUN56 plus donation amount to 70070.