A YORK man who launched an epic 4,000-mile sporting challenge has met a television veteran to help promote his fundraising.

Phil Wiggins, of Beech Grove in Acomb, started the Wiggo 4,000 run/swim/cycle challenge to mark his 40th birthday in October and raise money for The Alzheimer’s Society. He has now just passed the 1,000-mile mark.

Under the challenge, Phil aims to run, swim or cycle an average of 11 miles a day, five days out of seven, until October this year, incorporating many of the miles into his daily routine.

For example, he will run or cycle to his place of work, Electronics Direct, at Sheriff Hutton, from his York home. As part of his marathon fundraising effort, Phil visited the Bristol studio where Channel 4’s Deal Or No Deal is filmed to publicise his challenge.

He met show host Noel Edmonds and told the audience about his fundraising after Phil and the presenter struck up a friendship via email.

Phil said: “Noel is a bit of a cult hero in our company, and I had a running joke with the staff that it was Noel and not me that could authorise any dress-down days in the office.

“Last summer I sent a speculative, tongue-in-cheek email to his management company to see if we could get Noel to actually send me an email. They phoned me up slightly confused at my email but passed on my request to Noel all the same.

“The following day an email dropped into my inbox from Noel saying we could have dress-down on Friday but only if I dressed up as a badger.”

Several months on, Phil said he and Noel still exchange emails and when he told Noel about the Wiggo 4,000, Phil was invited down to the show.

The show featuring Phil will be broadcast on May 25.

He said: “Noel emailed me straight back and invited me down to the Deal Or No Deal studios so he could hear all about it, get some photos to help with publicity and see how he can help me over the year.

“He’s a really nice, genuine guy and we were all amazed how much he remembered about me and my challenge and also how willing he was to take so much of his time to help.

“It was really good to finally meet him and have a good chat.”

Phil is also setting up a charity auction later this year, and urged any businesses or individuals with prizes to contact him on philwiggins10@gmail.com