FORMER Taunton Town footballer Jason Smith plans to run seven marathons around Somerset in as many days to raise money for seven charities.

Jason, who played for The Peacocks at Wembley when they lost to Diss Town in the FA Vase final in 1994, is setting off on the energy-sapping challenge on Monday (May 26) in his bid to cover 183.4miles by the end of Sunday week.

He is being joined by several colleagues, some of them hoping to complete all seven runs, others taking on single legs.

He starts in Weston on Monday, running to Bristol, and the next day it’s on to Bath before his tired legs take him to Glastonbury, Taunton, Weston, Wells and back to Weston.

The group will arrive in Taunton on Thursday evening, when they will be given a massage at Alpha Male in Bath Place before setting off on Friday morning from the County Ground.

Jason, who has completed several challenges over the years, including summits, treks and runs, said: “I’ve been gaining support and additional runners to help in the challenge with a handful of runners joining me to run the full seven marathons and other runners offering to cover various distances on different days.

“We’ve been training for nine months to give ourselves the best opportunity of success for seven amazing charities.”

For details of how to sponsor Jason, visit jasonsmith.me.uk

The charities he is raising money for are Weston Hospiscare, the Muchopolysacharide Society, the Lullaby Trust, the Alzheimers Society, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the Children’s Hospice South West.