A WILTSHIRE fitness instructor and personal trainer who survived an acute brain haemorrhage and a stroke which left him paralysed in June 2010 has embarked on his toughest fundraising challenge to date.

Phil Walker, 44, from Trowbridge, is trying to raise £26,000 by doing 52,000 burpees over the course of a year.

Mr Walker, of Cock Hill, has set himself the challenge of completing 1,000 burpees a week for 52 weeks.

Mr Walker is trying to raise funds for two charities which are close to his heart.

They are People Against Poverty in Melksham, which aims to help break the cycle of poverty for the deprived people by empowering them to become self sufficient and raise awareness of poverty so that people in the UK are better able to understand the situation of the world's poor.

The other is ChallengeAid, which promotes health and fitness throughout the UK by motivating individuals, schools, universities and corporate groups to raise money through sponsored exercise and challenges.

With the money raised, ChallengeAid creates Schools of Hope for inspirational young slum dwellers in Kenya and Tanzania.

“I’m currently doing 150-160 burpees a day, seven days a week,” said Mr Walker, who runs the For Inspirational Training fitness centre on the Westdale Park, off Holt Road in Bradford on Avon. “I’m asking people to donate 50p per burpee and hope to have raised £26,000 by the end of the year.”

So far, Mr Walker has completed more than 31,000 burpees and has raised £849 plus gift aid, making a total of £1,044.50 raised so far.

Along the way, he’s battled through a chest infection, flu, a burst eardrum and a broken toe.

“The whole point is to show that you are capable of more than you think you can do,” said Mr Walker, who is being cheered on by his wife Sarah and four children, Jacob, 24, Amelia, 18, Angel, 17 and Albany, seven.

After suffering a brain haemorrhage in June 2010, Mr Walker underwent a nine-hour operation to repair burst blood vessels. He has since used his fitness to battle back from the congenital condition and boost his health.

To donate, go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PhilWalker17