VETERAN athletics coach Dave Lucas wants people to run, walk cycle or swim the distance from the Forest to Rio between now and the start of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Dave said: "It's about 6,800 miles, which works out at 37.5 miles a week.

"But people don't have to do it all themselves. A group of runners or walkers can aim to do the distance between them.

"That way, if there are 10 people in a walking group, it comes to 3.75 miles each a week."

Dave has got younger members of the athletics club working out the best route – going through France and Spain, across to Africa and from there to Brazil, before going down the coast to Rio.

"I want to give people a reason to try and get fit or keep fit.

"They can raise money for charity if they want to, but the personal goal of keeping fit is the most important thing."

For more on this story, read The Forester.