A RUNNER will arrive in Aberystwyth on Wednesday to attempt his 359th marathon in consecutive days to raise money for bullying charities after trying to take his own life as a teenager.

Ben Smith is aiming to break the world record for consecutive marathons by running 401 in a row to raise £250,000 for Stonewall and Kidscape - two charities he describes as “amazing”.

Ben, 33, from Bristol is just 42 marathons away from completing his epic challenge and will come to Aberystwyth to run a marathon circuit starting at Plascrug Leisure Centre at 10am.

The following day he will run his 360th marathon in Cardigan.

Beginning his challenge on 1 September last year, Ben said it has has been “one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences” of his life.

He began the quest after bullying as a youngster saw him try to take his own life twice - and was moved to do something big to raise money to help other children that are suffering.

Ben, whose childhood bullying began when he was sent away to boarding school at the age of 10, said that only when he came out as gay two years ago did his life “finally make sense”.

The Aberystwyth run will roughly follow the Ystwyth cycle path to Trawscoed, up to the Devil’s Bridge road via Llanfihangel, and back to Plascrug leisure centre via the Rheidol cycle route.