RUNNERS may be limbering up for the London Marathon in three weeks’ time, but Reuben Mansfield ran the distance three times in three days to raise funds for a good cause.

The 18-year-old New College student took part in the Jurassic Coast Challenge last weekend, which saw him run 78.6 miles from Charmouth to Studland Bay.

Reuben, who lives in Old Town, took part in the challenge to raise funds for his fellow students who are travelling to Kenya in the summer to help the community.

“I enjoyed the challenge of the whole thing and I thought I might as well do it in honour of what they are doing,” he said.

“I didn’t do as much training as I should have done. Other people had done abut six months training. I had been training for about a month.

“The first marathon especially was just a shock to the system really, it was crazy. My legs just ached completely. I don’t know how I kept going, it was just determination to finish.”

The physics, maths, and chemistry student was one of about 200 people taking part in the challenge, which saw him run for six hours and six minutes on the first day alone.

“Each marathon got easier as during three days,” he said.

Reuben, who raised £1,100, was running in aid of his friends’ trip to Kenya in the summer.

Last year, 17 teenagers and two staff members from New College travelled to Kenya for two weeks helping a school for four to 14-year-olds in Nakuru, north of Nairobi.

They helped with lessons, renovated classrooms and handed out clothing and school equipment.

And another team will be going to the school this year.

The pre-school they helped last year has now closed so the students are fundraising get the £8,000 needed to buy new land and create the new building.

Fiona Simpson, the member of New College staff behind the fundraising for Kenya, said: “Having visited the school over the summer, New College students have seen the terrible conditions the children have been living in.

“Since returning from the trip we have all been raising as much money as we can to help, as even the smallest amount will make a huge difference to these children.

“We have direct links with the Melon School now, so we can see where 100 per cent of the money donated will go.”

Anyone who can help the students raise the money should contact Fiona Simpson by emailing fiona.simpson @new college.ac.uk.