If dedication is what a record-breaker needs, then Angus man Mark James has it in abundance.
The Arbroath-based taxi operator has endured sleep deprivation, marathon cross-country treks, torturous daily treadmill workouts and hour-upon-hour on the squash court to prepare for his ultimate challenge.
Squash professional and masters international Mark, 48, is attempting a world record “squashathon” at Montrose Sports Centre in a fortnight’s time.
He hopes to complete more than 37 hours of non-stop competitive on-court play against around than 40 opponents.
The record of just over 35 hours was set in Perth, Australia, in April.
As well as the kudos of a new world record, Mark hopes to raise £5,000 for Nyumbani Children’s Home in Kenya, which offers support for orphans who are HIV-plus.
Mark said: “I play squash to a high standard at masters level but I figured I was never going to be world champion.
“But I saw on the internet that guys were challenging each other to squashathons and trying to play the longest games of squash ever.
“It is something I want to do from an individual point of view and I have been in training for over a year.
“But it is also because my mother is heavily involved in international charity, working with the Nyumbani project and I thought it was my time to give something towards what my mother does.”
Mark has added an hour and a half on a running machine treadmill five days a week. That has now built to two hours, with the addition of a three-hour run before work each morning.
The former army physical trainer introduced sleep deprivation challenges, going without any shut-eye before taking to the court for 15 hours just to get a sense of what it will feel like when he does the challenge for real.
More recently, to test his physical and mental capacity, Mark stayed awake all day before setting off on a walk from his Montrose home to Banchory and back.
A near 60-mile hike, it took him 39 hours to complete.
After the squashathon, Mark will head to Kenya with his mother, Alison Stedman and other family members to see the work of Nyumbani project.
Anyone who wants to make a donation can do so via Mark’s Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/markjames81066.