'I’M ready to take on the biggest challenge of my life.'

Those were the words of a Hampshire firefighter taking on a gruelling swim, cycle and marathon in memory of his best friend.

Andy Piller from Bitterne Park, Southampton, is competing in the Vichy Ironman Challenge for which he has been training for more than a year.

The 36-year-old, who currently lives in West End, and is taking on the challenge of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle and a 26.2 mile run in aid of Leukaemia Busters.

The charity fund research focused on discovering and developing treatments for patients with leukaemia and other related blood cancers.

The mammoth task is also in memory of his best friend Richard Williams, pictured, who died in March 2010 aged 29.

Andy, a station manager with Hampshire Fire and Rescue for 14 years, aims to raise £40,000 by his 40th birthday in September 2020.

He has previously organised a charity golf day for the past seven years as well as taking part in the London Marathon in 2016 and other half marathons.

To date, Andy has raised just under £30,000 since 2010.

Andy said: “I have been training full on for six days a week following a strict planner which has been intense since February.

“Come rain or shine I have been either in the pool, on the bike or in my trainers pounding the roads of Southampton, Eastleigh, Hedge End and West End.

“My training in France the past week has been interesting with the heat and mountains.

“I feel ready to take on the biggest challenge of my life and hope all goes to plan on the day and I make it over the finish line.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored me in particular to Redlane Ltd, Gracelands Ltd and Hilcon Ltd.”

He will swim in the Lake Allier before a bike course through the regions of Allier and Puy-de-dome, with views of the Chaine des Volcans d’Auvergne.

The challenge on Sunday ends with a run course on the shores of Lac d’Allier and through historical Vichy, where hundreds of spectators will line the course to cheer Andy and the other athletes to the finish.

To support Andy visit www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/andypiller1.