An Ipswich man has raised £15,000 for charity after completing a gruelling double marathon challenge in South Africa.

Robert Jeffery, who works for Ipswich care home Park View Care Home, in Chantry Green, was successful in his bid to run 56 miles in 12 hours after taking on the Comrades challenge, where athletes from across the globe meet up to take on the ‘greatest ultra marathon’.

As a result of his fundraising efforts, the Alzheimer’s Society received a total of £10,000.

Angela Ryan, Park View Care Home manager, congratulated Mr Jeffery for completing the challenge and thanked him for his fundraising efforts.

“We are delighted to be able to celebrate Robert’s achievement with him,” she said.

“We are also delighted to contribute to such a worthwhile charity which offers support to families as well as those suffering an illness, which underlines the ethics of Park View.”

Mrs Ryan also revealed Mr Jeffery raised a further £5,000 for another worthy cause.

“As well as the donation to the Alzheimer’s society, Robert also raised another £5,000 which has been donated to Suffolk MIND, with whom we are working closely to offer support sessions to residents, their families and staff.”

A Park View Care Home spokesman added Mr Jeffery’s achievements were all the more remarkable considering most participants in the Comrades Marathon, also dubbed ‘The Ultimate Human Race’, drop out of the race due to exhaustion.

“Moreover, after 12 hours the finish line is closed so runners after that time cannot claim to have completed the race,” the spokesman added.

The double marathon race was held on June 2, finishing in Durban.