A STRONGMAN will attempt to pull a steam train to raise money for two charities.

Jason Brown from Portslade became a strongman for his daughter Leila, 12, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. They watched World's Strongest Man together at Christmas, and one year Leila asked Jason if he could do it for her.

He said: "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pull a steam train. You can't really prepare for it as no one has a train that you can practise with.

"But training is going as best as it can."

He is trying to raise money for BEKS, a charity for the terminally ill, and the East Kent Railway Trust. The challenge will take place on August 1, and Jason is hoping to pull the 50-tonne locomotive 20 metres.

The Argus: James will be pulling a train similar to this oneJames will be pulling a train similar to this one

The train will be set up with the engine off and brakes lifted, so Jason is pulling it entirely unaided. There will be a conductor in the cabin making sure the train is in control.

The 40-year-old said: "BEKS is very close to home as they help terminally ill people.

"It is charities like this that manage to actually help bring dreams to come true for everyone, including my two children."

The aim for Jason is to raise double the target of £250, which is the minimum for the event.

He said: "We have set up a just giving page, but I would like to raise as much as possible. I have been putting it all over my social media, trying to get as much support as possible.

"I am also hoping that we will be able to raise some more on the actual day of the train pull."

Jason's son Fraser, seven, also suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. Leila is the biggest fan of her father's strongman competition. He has been taking part in competitions for the last couple of years.

The Argus: Jason became a strongman for his daughter Leila Jason became a strongman for his daughter Leila

He said: "Before she passes away, she wants to see me win a competition as a strongman."

"She gets well looked after at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, and it was her who got me started on this strongman journey.

"During the lockdown, I was training at home, so it has kind of become a journey for us all."

Jason's donation page can be found https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jasonbigdaddybrown