A FORMER soldier has exceeded his fundraising target after he and a team pushed themselves to the limit during a 24-hour fitness challenge for Ukraine.

Outdoor fitness instructor Jason Bayles, 52, along with four of his clients, completed a workout every hour from 9.30am on May 6 for a whole 24 hours.

The challenge was to support an appeal run by ActionAid and took place at the Studio 17 dance facility in Southampton.

The group set a target of £1,500 for the appeal but were able to raise more than £2,000.

Jason's fundraiser made a whopping £1,630 and one of his clients raised a further £500.

Jason and the team completed a different workout every hour including boxing, circuit training and yoga as well as high-intensity training sessions.

Jason decided to take on the challenge as he felt "compelled to do something good" after seeing advertisment from the DEC.

Rather than making a personal donation, he decided to fundraise for the charity.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Jason said: "It went really well.

"The credit shouldn't only go to me. My clients are who made it so successful.

"I had four clients with me and we were also supported by other clients who came and went and family members who passed by.

"It got really tough when it was dark, we were cold and our bodies were aching.

"It was really good, but it was really tough as well."

Jason, from Dibden, is a former army physical training instructor and his 26-year career included tours in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Kuwait during the first Gulf War.

He also spent four years at Marchwood Military Port.

The DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is striving to provide food and other essentials for the huge number of "hungry, exhausted and traumatised" families fleeing the conflict.

Many of those forced to leave their homes took only the items they were able to carry.

To sponsor Jason visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jason-bayles